Microgrid Development in ConnecticutLauren E. Gaunt, P.E.

Principal Engineer

Eversource Energy

October 19, 2016IEEE NESC Workshop

San Antonio, TX

2

Microgrid Development in ConnecticutEveEversource Energy Service Area

The Connecticut Legislature Public Act 12-148 - An Act Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and ResponseConnecticut General Statutes Section 16-243y

Ø The Act established a Microgrid grant and loan pilot program to support local distributed generation for critical facilities in municipalities

Ø Utilized the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (“CASE”) to study methods (emergency generation, undergrounding and Microgrids) of providing reliable electric services to critical facilities

Ø Grants and loans shall only be used to provide assistance to recipients for the cost of design, engineering services and interconnection infrastructure (Does not fund Generation or Storage Equipment)

Ø To the extent possible awards to be divided between small, medium, and large municipalities

HurricaneIrene OctoberBlizzard “SuperStorm”Sandy

3

Microgrid Development in Connecticut

Microgrids – Drivers and StatusMicrogrid activityhasbeendrivenprimarilybyresiliencyobjectivesinConnecticut

Microgrids Drivers

The Primary objective for microgrid is to leverage islanding capability to meet the needs of critical and sensitive loads as well as to enable optimal asset operation on a local level.

4

5

Ø Program administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental

Protection(“DEEP”), with $23M awarded in Round 1 and Round 2 ($30M to

be awarded in final Round 3)

Ø Microgrid development to support local distributed generation for critical facilities

Ø Must include more than one critical facility

Ø Program development has been a collaboration between DEEP, CT Green Bank, Eversource & UIL

Ø Awards to be divided between small, medium, and large municipalities

Ø Round Three Summary

Ø Began accepting applications starting December 10, 2015

Ø $3M limit per applicant. An additional $2M per municipality is available for towns in the USDA Rural Community Assistance Program. $20M (out of $30M total) is set aside for municipalities.

Ø Municipalities will be allowed to utilize “clean” emergency generation in their proposals (i.e., Natural Gas or Tier 4 Diesel)

CT DEEP Microgrid Program Overview

Connecticut DEEP Round 1 and Round 2 Status$23 Million in grants awarded

6

Project name Type Operation Technology type (s)

GenerationMW Grant ($M) Status

University of Connecticut Campus A Fuel cell 0.4 $2.14 Awarded

Wesleyan University Campus A Recip. Engine 3.076 $0.69 In-service

University of Hartford Campus B Recip. Engine (diesel) 2.3 $2.27 In-service

Groton Submarine Base Campus A Gas turbine (s) 5.0 $3.00 AwardedUniversity of Bridgeport (Round 2) Campus A

Fuel cell 1.4 $2.18 Under construction

Town of Windham Campus A Recip. Engine 0.2 $0.64 Under construction

City of Bridgeport Community A Micro-turbines 1.8 $2.98 Awarded

Town of Woodbridge Community A Fuel cell, recip. Engine 0.4 $3.00 Under

construction

City of Harford Community A Fuel cell 0.8 $2.06 Under construction

Town of Fairfield Community B Recip. Engine 0.3 $1.17 In-service

City of Milford (Round 2) Community A

Recip. Engine, fuel cell, PV + battery 0.6

$2.91 Awarded

Key:

A – Continuous Parallel

B – Standby

Connecticut Microgrid Locations

LegendDEEP fundedUnder ConstructionOperatingPotentialAwarded, not started

7

8

Project Details• Facilities Served: Community School/Shelter, Supermarket and Gas

Station• Grid-Tied Community Microgrid (Normally continuous parallel)• Projected In-Service Date: December 31, 2016• Generator: 800 kW Fuel Cell• Generator owner controls microgrid• Electrical Infrastructure: 23-kV distribution owned and operated by Utility• Funding Sources

• $2.06M DEEP Microgrid Grant for electrical infrastructure and control• 15 year Low-Emissions Renewable Energy Credit contract with Utility• Virtual Net Metering• Natural Gas Distribution Charge waiver (Required by Law)• Electric Demand Charge waiver (Required by Law)

Case History - Community Microgrid

9

Virtual Net Metering – Summary Highlights

o Credits determined monthly

o Based on the generation portion of the Customer Host bill (new legislation expands credit calculation and allocation)

o At the Customer Host account,•During a monthly billing period, the total energy produced is netted against the total energy consumed•Resulting excess kWh produced at Customer Host account used to calculate a credit to offset the generation portion of the bills for the Beneficial Accounts

o Limited to only Municipal, Agricultural, and State facilities.

o Capped at $10 million in annual benefits.

Case History – Community Microgrid

10

Microgrid Interconnection Agreement Details• Parties: Utility, City, Generator Owner-Operator• Agreement is a modification of the standard interconnection agreement• Key Agreement Revisions:

• Generator changed to Microgrid Operator • City is the Customer

• Provisions to allow for parallel operation• Operator is responsible for grid operation during microgrid mode and liable for any damages• Modified Force Majeure to require operation during natural disasters.• Added environmental responsibility limitation clause• Operational Procedure

• Transition from normal operation to microgrid operation and back to normal• Protocol on interface between Microgrid Operation and Utility• Outline responsibilities of each party• Operating Instruction under development

Case History - Community Microgrid

11

Microgrid Interconnection Technical Details and Scope of Work

• Install new 23 kV automatic switchgear with SCADA and new manhole

• Install approximately 500 feet multi-duct conduit

• Install approximately 2,200 feet of 4/0 aluminum underground cable

• Remove and relocate existing fence enclosure and transformer

• Install new transformers for gas station and supermarket to provide dedicated feeds to

each

• Enlarge manhole for primary service to gas station

• Utility will continue to own and operate the interconnecting distribution system

• Individual customers will continue to receive service and bills through/from Utility

Case History - Community Microgrid

Microgrid – Example Operation

Transfer to Microgrid: (Open transition)

1. Microgrid owner informs utility they are prepared to island (Microgrid owner must prepare customer’s load to manage cold load pickup).

2. Utility opens all breakers in switchgear3. Generator energizes service transformer and sends a permissive signal to

close incoming switchgear breaker4. Switchgear closes incoming breaker and closes breaker to remaining Microgrid

customers.

12

Microgrid Grant Program Round 3

q Additional Program Informationo Connecticut D.E.E.P. Website

http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/DEEPEnergy.nsf/$EnergyView?OpenForm&Start=22&Count=30&Expand=34&Seq=4

o Connecticut General Statutes – Section 16-243y – Microgrid Grant Program – Round 3

q Questions??o Email Connecticut D.E.E.P.:

DEEP.EnergyBureau@ct.gov

13

14

Possible National Electrical Safety Code ("NESC") Matters

• Utility or private ownership of facilities? I.e. NESC or NEC governs?