Microgrid Design and Implementation

This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.

This week, we’ll define our terms, explain the increasing need for microgrids, examine the U.S. and global microgrid markets, present drivers like security and disruptions (e.g. weather, terrorist attack, natural disasters), outline the main elements of a microgrid, provide an overview of distributed generation, and imagine how microgrids will function as the energy landscape continues to evolve.

This week will provide the answers to the following questions? How do we classify microgrids? What are the two key things microgrids provide? What is the value proposition? What is holding back the development of microgrids if they are superior to the existing grid? What is a realistic forecast for microgrids? What would it take to exceed the realistic forecast?

While microgrids have been studied and discussed extensively in theoretical terms, real-world examples are limited. This week will present case studies covering mixed modes (diesel, solar PV, batteries, etc.) and also different contexts/geographies (United States, international, island, etc.). Particular attention will be paid to the University of California, San Diego microgrid, which generates over 90% of the university's electricity.

Each microgrid project is different and incorporates different technologies and components to achieve its goals. This week will cover some of the common pieces of the puzzle, including solar panels, batteries, macro and micro wind turbines, diesel, and controllers.

Microgrids range in size and complexity. This week will cover do-it-yourself options, more complex configurations, and engineering scale considerations.

This week will describe how to leverage the learning and capabilities already out there. It will present more than 50 tools for global microgrid implementation. Two examples are HOMER, software that provides quantitative modeling of power sources and output, and GifZ, a German web-based microgrid tool that can assist with load assessment, sizing, and financing.

This week will delve into the myriad obstacles microgrids face. In the United States' residential market, all the necessary pieces exist, but the puzzle has not yet been solved. In the Virgin Islands, there is demand but no supply.

This week will explore the best ways to finance microgrid projects and how to drive (and survive) local, state and federal microgrid policy. It will also touch upon near-term developments in global support sources.

This week will take a broad look at the international microgrid landscape (including India, Africa, and China). It will review different potential business models and look to the telecommunications sector as an example of what is possible. Finally, it will provide an overview of clean energy mini-grid support providers and programs.

This week will summarize and synthesize the material for the first nine weeks and provide additional resources for researching microgrid development.

This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!