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.
Combining on-site generation, battery energy storage and intelligent energy control software can transform a site or area into a smart microgrid. These self-contained electrical grids can operate connected to, or independent of, the wider power grid.
A microgrid is a localised energy system that can operate independently or in conjunction with the larger electrical grid. It typically consists of distributed energy resources such as solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and generators, along with control systems to manage energy production and distribution.
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.
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Several factors, including generation choice, battery size, and interconnection upgrades, influence the cost of microgrids. However, there are ways to manage these factors to ensure microgrid projects can move forward with satisfied customers, as discussed in the Microgrid 2021 conference session called “Why Does a Microgrid Cost What It Costs?”