Dive Brief:
- Pennsylvania utility PECO Energy has proposed a pair of integrated microgrids to boost reliability in the high-density area of Concord Township in Pennsylvania, powered by gas generation, solar energy, two batteries and four Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations.
- The project would power a range of public service loads, including local emergency services, a retirement community, hotels and gas stations. The area has a typical aggregate peak load of 8.6 MW.
- PECO said the microgrid project could result in a 90% improvement in the duration and frequency of outages in Concord Township, a 388-acre area that has experienced a spike in blackouts over the last five years.
Dive Insight:
The initial goal of PECO's proposed microgrids is to boost power resiliency in the area, which has been struck by storms in recent years. The utility will own and operate the generation assets on the grid, but told regulators that it will also be exploring the possibility of integrating third-party assets in the future.
PECO said it will consider "an upgraded microgrid design with additional [distributed energy resources] sited on customer property to meet future load growth and expand microgrid functionality." Possible DERs include rooftop and carport PV facilities, wind turbines, community battery energy storage systems and EV charging stations with faster charging capabilities.
"As part of this investigation, PECO will explore opportunities for customer and third-party ownership of microgrid DER assets sited on customer property," the utility said. "PECO also expects to test additional control features, which are necessary to ensure that solar PV installations deployed within a microgrid can maintain high-quality power during times of resource intermittency."
The proposed microgrid would be capable of operating in island mode, separate from PECO’s distribution system. In island mode, the the microgrid would be able to provide uninterrupted service to the Concordville fire station and Township building, and could restore power within fifteen minutes to other services and customers within the microgrid.
"As a result, services accessible and relied upon by more than 86,000 Commonwealth residents who
live within a five-mile radius of the major traffic routes within the microgrid footprint will be able to continue to operate during severe storms and other widespread power interruptions" PECO said.
The two integrated microgrids will be primarily powered by natural gas. The utility requested authority to install 10 MW of gas reciprocating engines, with 4 MW on one microgrid and 6 MW on the other. The smaller grid serves 4 MW of load and the larger would serve 4.6 MW.