A pioneering electric microgrid project that includes more than 2000 solar panels capable of generating nearly 700 kW of clean power has moved into operation in the Canadian town of Lac-Mégantic.
The energy network incorporates a grid-forming battery energy storage system with ability to store about 600 kWh of energy, and hosts tools to manage the energy use of around 30 buildings in the downtown area of the Québec municipality. Smarter Grid Solutions, a Mitsubishi unit, provided software systems for the project.
In 2013, Lac-Mégantic suffered a catastrophic fossil fuel disaster which acted as a catalyst for the pursuit of greater sustainability across the region. Following the event, the town has worked with local utility provider Hydro Québec, civil engineering firm CIMA+ and energy software experts Smarter Grid Solutions to establish a living lab as part of ambitions to transition to cleaner energy use, reduce carbon emissions, and increase local electricity resiliency.
The remote power system can be disconnected from the local grid and operate autonomously for hours. Moving clean technologies, like solar and battery storage, onto the microgrid system demonstrates greenhouse gas emissions reduction and provides a sustainable energy supply for buildings and utilities served by the system.
As part of the project, Smarter Grid Solutions deployed sophisticated software to provide microgrid control and distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) functionality. This includes the optimization and control of diverse above and behind the meter energy resources and the coordination between grid-connected and islanded modes.
