Emera Maine to power Hampden Operation Center using clean, onsite microgrid

Published on September 22, 2016 by Robert Moore


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A plan to provide Emera Maine’s Hampden Operations Center with clean, onsite power generation was announced on Tuesday, including solar generation, a Tesla battery storage system, a level-2 electric vehicle charging station and an advanced microgrid controller.

“This project not only will lower energy costs and increase reliability for our Hampden Operations Center, it will help us to manage distribution feeder load in the area, which will potentially defer the need for distribution investments,” Emera Maine President and COO Alan Richardson said. “It also will minimize use of diesel fuel, which is the main backup generation on-site today. Together, we are working toward a cleaner, more energy efficient and sustainable future that is customer-focused and supported by a smart and strong electric grid.”

The project is estimated to pay for itself without cross subsidy from customers, and is funded in part by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) as a part of the larger Opus One Solutions-led energy network project.

“We are thrilled to work with a progressive utility like Emera Maine to demonstrate the capabilities of our real-time intelligent energy networking software platform, GridOS,” Opus One CEO and President Joshua Wong said. “Evolving the electricity grid requires leaders willing to adopt innovative technologies and we are grateful SDTC has enabled this partnership to flourish.”

Opus One Solutions will provide the control systems that manage the microgrid and its interactions with the distribution grid. Advanced Microgrid Solutions is also a member of the project team, and help to optimize the energy storage system.