The Inflation Reduction Act incentivizes large-scale battery storage projects. And California regulations now require energy storage for newly constructed commercial buildings. The same microgrid-based BESS can serve either or both of these use cases.
Microgrid Technology: What Is It and How It Works? Generally, a microgrid is a set of distributed energy systems (DES) operating dependently or independently of a larger utility grid, providing flexible local power to improve reliability while leveraging renewable energy.
Another use case for battery storage on microgrids is aggregating BESS as a virtual power plant (VPP) to correct imbalances in the utility grid. At the grid level, when the supply of power from renewables temporarily drops, utilities need to respond quickly to maintain equilibrium between supply and demand and stabilize the grid frequency.
Energy cost savings: A microgrid can help you to optimise energy costs by using a combination of renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, fuel cells and energy storage systems. By reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuel sources, a microgrid can help lower energy costs and improve your bottom line.
On-site battery energy storage systems (BESS) are essential to this strategy. Battery energy storage systems maximize the impact of microgrids using the transformative power of energy storage. By decoupling production and consumption, storage allows consumers to use energy whenever and wherever it is most needed.
Additionally, microgrids provide an essential backup power source in case of outages or natural disasters and enable greater control over local energy production. A microgrid can disconnect from the central grid and operate independently.