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Microgrid 101 - Free Introduction to Microgrid Design and Optimization

Expand your career into one of the fastest-growing sectors in energy and take the first step toward mastering microgrid design and optimization.

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Microgrid 101

Next Course:
January 28, 2024

Microgrid 201

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Coming Soon

Microgrid 301

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Your First Steps to Microgrid & DER Mastery

Course Date: January 28, 2025
Live Training: 8 AM - 12 PM PT
Includes: One-Week Trial of Xendee
Cost: Free

The energy industry is evolving, and engineers are increasingly stepping into roles that require integrating renewable energy, distributed technologies, and microgrid systems. This introductory course is tailored for professionals looking to expand their expertise, whether transitioning from solar PV, EV infrastructure, or another specialized energy sector.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of microgrids, their growing role in energy resilience, and the challenges of designing them effectively. The course covers key topics such as managing diverse energy resources, optimizing loads and tariffs, and integrating technologies like PV, battery storage, and generators. You’ll also explore emerging opportunities in EV infrastructure and its intersection with microgrid design.

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Go Beyond Theory by Studying Real-World Microgrids

This course includes an in-depth look at real-world microgrid applications, drawing on case studies from projects across the United States and Europe. Examples include feasibility studies, the design of a campus-wide microgrid with a focus on electric vehicle integrations, and an industrial microgrid supporting a major manufacturing facility. These case studies provide practical insights into how foundational concepts and design principles can be applied to create distributed energy systems that are cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable.


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Case Studies:

University of California San Diego (UCSD) Campus EV Microgrid

The UCSD Campus EV Microgrid project aims to upgrade its existing 40 MW microgrid to accommodate a peak load of 57 MW and address increased EV demand. With its proximity to an interstate freeway, it is an ideal location for microgrid fast-charging stations. The current microgrid, which supports 85% of campus energy needs, includes PV, steam and gas turbines, battery storage, and a fuel cell, alongside 46 Level 2 chargers and 4 DC fast chargers meeting a daily EV demand of 2.53 MWh. Future plans involve modeling a 31.44 MWh increase in daily EV demand, up to 40 additional DC fast chargers, and expanded rooftop PV and storage to support the increased load.

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Case Studies:

Naval Base San Diego Infrastructure Retrofit

The San Diego Naval Base Infrastructure Retrofit project aims to address projected demand increases through two options: upgrading infrastructure for greater utility imports or installing distributed energy resources (DERs) to meet demand and enhance resilience. For a 14-day resilience requirement, the recommended solution includes 7,843 kW of solar PV, 305 kWh of battery energy storage (BESS), and a 5,064 kW natural gas CHP generator, avoiding the need for costly infrastructure upgrades while meeting redundancy and outage duration requirements.

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Case Studies:

Puerto Rico Microgrid: Solutions for Vulnerable Communities

The Puerto Rico Microgrid Solutions project aims to provide reliable, resilient electricity to underserved, outage-prone communities through a three-stage plan: installing solar PV with energy storage, upgrading hydroelectric capacity at Caonillas and Dos Bocas reservoirs from 6 MW to 50 MW, and implementing optimal planning and dispatch for an integrated microgrid. The recommended solution for 24/7 critical load resilience includes 20 MW of solar PV across four municipalities and 44.8 MWh of storage.

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Case Studies:

European Residential Microgrid for Cost Saving and EV Charging

A European residential microgrid, featuring an AI-enabled Microgrid Controller on a low-cost Raspberry Pi system (~$3000 including metering equipment and installation), focuses on optimizing PV, battery, and EV operations. The controller minimizes utility purchases, reduces PV sales back to the grid, and optimizes EV charging schedules based on three-day load and solar predictions. Updated every minute, this Model Predictive Controller (MPC) adapts dynamically to changing conditions, such as weather. As a result, total energy costs for 2024 (through mid-October) were only $75, including EV charging for 6000 miles annually, showcasing significant cost savings and efficient energy use.

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Case Studies:

Model Predictive Microgrid Control for PV + BESS

Model Predictive Control (MPC) enhances traditional Energy Management Systems (EMS) by introducing AI-enabled load and PV forecasting for a 72-hour horizon, updated every minute. This adaptive approach optimizes energy dispatch, actively managing demand charges and time-of-use (TOU) rates to maximize cost savings. Unlike rule-based EMS systems, which lack foresight and miss opportunities to effectively use PV surplus for battery storage, MPC integrates real-time control and forecasting, reducing costs and increasing returns. Though forecasting errors may incur costs, the active management of TOU spreads and demand charges delivers significant economic benefits when compared to existing EMS operations.

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Microgrid 101 Course Syllabus

Includes a Free One-Week Trial of Xendee

 

Introduction
Instructor: Michael Stadler
Time: 8:00–8:15 AM PT

Microgrid Overview
Instructor: Michael Stadler
Time: 8:15–8:30 AM PT
Gain an understanding of microgrids, their core concepts, and the growing markets driving their adoption.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Instructor: Michael Stadler
Time: 8:30–8:40 AM PT
Examine the challenges posed by limited utility infrastructure for electric vehicles and review key market research insights.

The Engineering Challenge
Instructor: Michael Stadler
Time: 8:40–9:00 AM PT
Learn about the engineering challenges and optimization strategies involved in designing efficient microgrids.

Microgrid Examples / Use Cases
Instructor: Michael Stadler
Time: 9:15–10:00 AM PT
Explore real-world examples of microgrid deployments, focusing on practical applications and lessons learned.

What Do You Need to Design a Microgrid?
Instructor: Michael Stadler
Time: 10:10–10:15 AM PT
Understand the process of gathering necessary data, setting project conditions, and selecting organizational goals for successful design.

Important Drivers for Microgrids & Modeling
Instructor: Lulu Arias
Time: 10:15–10:35 AM PT
Dive into critical factors influencing microgrid design, such as load requirements, tariffs, combined heat and power (CHP), and financial incentives.

Integrated & Standardized Modeling Platform
Instructor: Lulu Arias
Time: 10:35 AM–11:00 PM PT
Learn about the integrated platform used for microgrid modeling, and watch a live demonstration of its features and capabilities.

Real Modeling Example in Xendee
Instructor: Rita Chen
Time: 11:05 PM–12:00 PM PT
An interactive session where participants will model a microgrid, incorporating solar, battery storage, and generators.

Instructors:

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Michael Stadler

Co-Founder and
Chief Technical Officer
Lulu-Arias

Lulu Arias

Director of Customer Success
Rita-Chen

Rita Chen

Customer Success Engineer
 

See How Academic and Research Leaders Are Partnering With Xendee

Trusted & Used By:
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Xendee has been an integral partner in our microgrid innovation research and in helping UC San Diego to capture new project funding and research opportunities.
Prof. Jan Kleissl
Director, Center for Energy Research
University of California, San Diego

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As demand for distributed energy and microgrids grows, engineers with the skills to design these systems will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy. This course provides the technical and practical foundation you need to confidently enter this space and expand your career opportunities. You can also suggest additional advanced topics for the Microgrid 201 course if you'd like to see specific domains or use cases covered.