California energy infrastructure upgrades examined

Schneider Electric and Navigant Research have partnered to provide insight regarding methods of upgrading California’s energy infrastructure through Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) solutions.

Schneider Electric specializes in the digital transformation of energy management and automation while Navigant Research serves as a leading market research and advisory firm. The resulting white paper explores innovative use-cases for EaaS municipal microgrids and is part of Schneider Electric’s larger commitment to driving resilience and more sustainable, affordable power in the state.

“California, which has ranked first in blackouts for nine years in a row, needs to modernize its grid and power delivery infrastructure to not only meet its most basic safety and economic needs but also reach its aggressive carbon reduction and renewable energy goals,” Peter Asmus, research director with Navigant Research, said. “Microgrids will play an increasingly important role as municipalities take power availability and resilience into their own hands to ensure individual citizens and businesses maintain energy access when it’s needed most.”

The analysis also addresses how local governments can finance municipal microgrids through innovative public-private partnerships and EaaS business models.

“Microgrids have advanced to the point where access to secure, flexible and affordable power is within the reach of nearly everyone, without the need for an extensive overhaul of the entire grid,” Mark Feasel, vice president of Electric Utility Segment & Smart Grid at Schneider Electric, said. “We believe California’s critical facilities and municipalities need to be evaluating microgrids as part of their overall energy strategy and we’re proud to offer a guiding resource to simplify the decision process and drive greater adoption in the state.”