Microgrids are becoming increasingly important to facility managers. Some facility managers are looking for greater power reliability and resilience. Others want to increase their organization’s sustainability through the use of onsite renewable energy. Still others may view a microgrid as a way to reduce electricity costs, thereby improving the enterprise bottom line.
Whatever the reason, microgrids can play an important role in facilities. What’s more, trends ranging from utility incentives to the falling cost of solar power to the move to electrify building loads suggest that interest in microgrids will grow. So it’s important for facility managers to have a solid understanding of what microgrids are and of the developments that could make microgrids even more widely used in the future.
What are Microgrids?
Facility managers are generally familiar with the national grid, on which utilities move electricity from remote generation to the building site. But a recent ASCO/Building Operating Management survey indicates that many are not clear about microgrids.
Only six percent of respondents called themselves “very familiar” with the concept of microgrids, while 62 percent said they were “not very familiar.” (See Figure 1.)
Whatever the reason, microgrids can play an important role in facilities. What’s more, trends ranging from utility incentives to the falling cost of solar power to the move to electrify building loads suggest that interest in microgrids will grow. So it’s important for facility managers to have a solid understanding of what microgrids are and of the developments that could make microgrids even more widely used in the future.
What are Microgrids?
Facility managers are generally familiar with the national grid, on which utilities move electricity from remote generation to the building site. But a recent ASCO/Building Operating Management survey indicates that many are not clear about microgrids.
Only six percent of respondents called themselves “very familiar” with the concept of microgrids, while 62 percent said they were “not very familiar.” (See Figure 1.)