CHALLENGE:
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) needed to develop a standardized method to guide rapid and repeatable modeling and design of secure and resilient DoD microgrids globally.
This would provide enhanced energy reliability and enable DoD installations to safely ride-out prolonged utility power outages and sustain mission critical operations, using renewable energy resources and storage in an integrated microgrid system.
SOLUTION:
In order to efficiently model DoD Microgrids, a standard and repeatable approach was identified and detailed. The approach also included cyber security, implementation, and commissioning to complete the whole process of implementing a microgrid.
The aligned end goal was to be able to leverage the defined approach for the purpose of training users on microgrid design and the XENDEE platform.
The deliverable created a standardized process for Microgrid implementation. The process envisioned was based on upgrading critical facilities in an existing Army facility or medium-sized grid-connected military base. While this deliverable covered all the military services, it focused solely on Army installations.
The final output detailed the following steps:
- Preliminary assessment:
- Project initiation for a Microgrid
- Data collection for techno-economic assessment
- Microgrid techno-economic assessment
- Engineering design:
- Data collection for detailed design
- System architecture and power subsystem design
- Cyber subsystem design, SCADA subsystem design and system integration
- Construction:
- Permitting and procurement
- Construction and commissioning
- Operation and maintenance
As part of this analysis we detailed all the projected costs throughout the lifecycle of building a microgrid, including but not limited to, planning and feasibility studies, equipment or service, construction and installation, permitting, interconnection, metering, monitoring, and data acquisition, O&M or maintenance contract costs.
Many of these costs are inbuilt in the XENDEE platform.
RESULTS:
The DoD gained a rapid and repeatable method to model and design secure and resilient DoD microgrids globally that included both cybersecure tools and proven processes for accurate and efficient design.
Xendee