Microgrids

The microgrid technology available today offers increased resiliency, lowers energy costs, and helps meet sustainability objectives.  WES works within the energy network to explore how critical facilities can leverage new technologies for improved resiliency. 

Microgrids are imperative to the existing energy grid for maintaining power.  Continuity of operations in critical facilities in the face of recent natural disasters have made it evident that long-term outages of the commercial power grid can be devastating.  Additional threats from manmade and natural electromagnetic pulses create uncertainty in power stability.

When deployed, independent modular microgrids rely wholly on operational inputs for island operation. A protected out of band management network connects the islands to form a type of archipelago for coordinated operations and situational awareness.

 DC Coupled Microgrids

Through use of today’s new technology in modularity, high voltage DC power, and flexible distribution, the arrangement is designed to deliver maximum power with minimum energy consumption. In addition, minimum and simplistic maintenance and scalable growth can be adapted and changed to match future business opportunities.

Why Consider Microgrids Now?

Recent advances in technology such as the application of Granular Diagnostics™, Touch Safe DC, etc. and an increase in frequency and duration of power outages have increased the feasibility of, and interest in Microgrids.

Properly implemented Microgrids can offer facilities requiring consistent, continuous, reliable power, and desire increased efficiency and a lower carbon footprint a very attractive alternative.

Granular Diagnostics™ integrates and leverages sophisticated monitoring tools that can diagnose the behavior and characteristics of every device on an electrical network in real time, collects the historical data, and then utilizes state-of-the-art data analytics.  While providing and audit trail of usage on each device on the network it allows the user to better understand the complex interrelationships between devices on the network and run true “what if” scenarios and exercise control more intelligently.

DC Coupled Microgrids take advantage of new technologies to allow for the delivery of safe high voltage direct current.  Given the fact that renewable energy solutions produce DC energy that must be converted or rectified to AC current creating significant energy loss, and most storage solutions store DC power, DC Coupled Microgrids are highly cost effective.