Microgrids are turning into a macro business. The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund it is investing $2 billion in a partnership with Anbaric Developm
Microgrids are turning into a macro business. The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund it is investing $2 billion in a partnership with Anbaric Development Partners. Anbaric undertakes clean energy projects, including large microgrids, in North America. The goal is to replace eroding infrastructure.
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) said last week that global annual revenue from microgrids rose 29 percent between 2015 and last year, according to Microgrid Knowledge. The revenues totaled $6.8 million at the beginning of 2017. The report, which was prepared by Navigant Research, said that the market in the United States has more than doubled since 2011. The sector reached $2.2 billion last year after enjoying a 16 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), between 2015 and 2016.
Another new survey tracks growth. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and The George Washington University said that the definition of microgrids as a backup for industrial, military, educational and remote sites is changing.
Today’s definition is much broader, incorporating cleaner technologies and more diverse customers, establishing microgrids as a key component of tomorrow’s resilient, efficient and low-emissions electricity system.
The report, entitled “Microgrid Momentum: Building Efficient, Resilient Power,” says that the technology only produces 0.2 percent of U.S. electricity (about 1.6 GW). That capacity is expected to double in the next three years, however.
energymanagertoday.com
