The Intersection of Sustainability and Microgrids

When customers decide that they want a microgrid for their local energy needs, one of the first questions to ask is: “What do you see as the primary goal or objective for your microgrid?” In many cases end-use customers are seeking sustainable solutions for their energy needs.  But what does this mean? 

As Jeffrey Sachs points out in his book The Age of Sustainable Development, “it is a mistake to believe that the world’s sustainable development problems can be boiled down to one idea or one solution”.  Just as a Microgrid is often a complex system of systems, Sachs notes that sustainable development is a complex system touching four subsystems: 1) A global economy; 2) Social interactions; 3) Earth Systems; and 4) Governance.

Against this backdrop, sustainability is a key driver for many microgrid projects First, most new microgrids that include renewables (e.g., wind, solar) as a prime source of energy.  Energy Storage is typically a critical buffer, providing necessary services to assist with the inherent intermittent nature of renewable assets. With respect to sustainability, this increased use of renewables can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help attain renewable regulatory goals, and in some cases fulfill net zero energy goals.

Renewables-based microgrids have different manifestations depending upon a customer’s unique needs.  To a Commercial & Industrial organization, renewable energy is often seen as good business or a carbon risk management strategy. In a 2017 report, Ceres found that 63% of Fortune 100 companies have set one or more clean energy targets, and that 48% of Fortune 500 companies have at least one climate or clean energy target.  “American businesses are leading the transition to a clean economy because its smart business and it is what their customers want”, notes report author, Marty Spitzer, World Wildlife Fund’s senior director of climate and renewable energy.