How much does a microgrid cost?

Or as S&C Electric’s David Chiesa puts it: “If you’ve seen one microgrid you’ve seen one microgrid.” So there is no quick and simple price to give a prospective customer. Sources we’ve interviewed cite project proposals as low as $250,000 to as high as $100 million. Generation typically accounts for most of the cost.

Is a microgrid more expensive than a small solar array?

True, larger microgrids will likely be more expensive than smaller microgrids — but in gross terms, not necessarily on a per kilowatt basis. In fact, generation for a very small microgrid tends to cost more per kilowatt than a comparable larger version. For example, a 50-kW solar array is more expensive per kilowatt than 1-MW solar array.

Does Hitachi have a financial sweet spot for microgrids?

Hitachi has a found a financial sweet spot for microgrids sized between 1.5 MW and 40 MW that include CHP, solar photovoltaics and energy storage. The best savings typically accrue in areas of the country where utility costs are high – which explains in part the large amount of microgrid activity in the Northeast.

What is the highest microgrid?

The highest microgrid in operation now is a Level 5. An example is the Oncor microgrid that S&C Electric helped build with a team of several other companies. The highest microgrid in planning is a Level 6, which opens the door to a grid of microgrids, where microgrids can interact with each other and share resources.

Should a microgrid be built all at once?

Microgrids don’t have to be built all at once, but can be expanded and improved in phases, with additional sophistication and capabilities layered in over time. By taking this approach, customers can invest gradually, gaining confidence as the microgrid proves its business case.

Which energy storage technologies are included in the 2020 cost and performance assessment?

The 2020 Cost and Performance Assessment provided installed costs for six energy storage technologies: lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, lead-acid batteries, vanadium redox flow batteries, pumped storage hydro, compressed-air energy storage, and hydrogen energy storage.