A Feasibility Study on Building a Stand-Alone Community Microgrid in the United States

Abstract

Switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy is an essential step towards reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. On a local level, microgrids could be the solution to further renewable energy penetration. This study develops and makes use of an analysis tool for calculating the cost and benefits of developing a self-sufficient community microgrid in several locations throughout the United States. The novelty of the study includes the analysis of costs and benefits of developing a residential neighborhood of 1000 households powered by 4 to 8 MW of renewable energy as well as powering this stand-alone community microgrid with 100% renewable energy. The study investigates using energy savings to sell houses at a discounted price to attract customers and aims to boost the usage of renewable energy through the popularization of this model. Because of the variable nature of renewable energy, storage systems play an essential role in designing a stand-alone microgrid. The study uses the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) System Advisor Model (SAM) to calculate available resources in various locations and model the electric load. This data is then used to estimate the amount of energy needed for storage purposes. Detailed calculations of costs and benefits can prove the viability of such a system in various locations across the United States. The results show that this model would be viable in locations such as southern California where wind and solar energy resources are highly available.