Latest news with #microgrid
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Fast Company
This massive new data center is powered by used EV batteries
Over the last two months, a first-of-a-kind project has taken shape at an industrial site in Nevada: the world's largest microgrid built with used EV batteries, designed to power an adjacent data center. It's the first of a series of microgrids planned by Redwood Materials, the battery recycling company now valued at more than $5 billion. The company is taking in a quickly-growing volume of used EV batteries—tens of thousands over the last year, and perhaps hundreds of thousands over the next 12 months. Most of those batteries still have enough capacity to have a second life before the materials are recycled. And they could help deal with a major energy challenge: how new data centers can come online quickly and cheaply without straining the grid and significantly adding to climate emissions. 'The amount of batteries coming back that have usable life and that are relatively more cost-efficient to deploy has ramped up dramatically in just the last year or two,' says JB Straubel, CEO of Redwood Materials. The company announced its new energy business arm at an event on June 26. Straubel, one of Tesla's cofounders, left the automaker in 2019 to help build a new U.S. supply chain of critical battery materials using the growing pile of battery waste. Last year, the company started commercial production of cathode active material, one key component in batteries, from recycled materials. Its recycling business is already profitable; it generated $200 million in revenue last year. But it also recognized the huge opportunity to put some batteries to work again. How EV batteries can find a second life When a battery is in a car or a truck, 'it's a pretty demanding application,' Straubel says. 'You need a lot of power capability. You really want to charge quickly, usually, so you can go to fast charge stations. And you also need a pretty high percent of your overall initial range that you purchased in the car.' But even when a battery has lost so much capacity that it no longer makes sense for driving, it can still be used to store energy. In that application, charging and discharging can happen slowly. A battery might only have half of its original capacity, but can still reliably support the grid or a microgrid. In some cases, it could be used for years before it's eventually recycled. In the new microgrid, on Redwood's campus near Reno, more than 800 used EV batteries are connected to 20 acres of solar panels. It has enough power to run a new AI data center on the site, built by Crusoe, a company that designs and deploys low-carbon compute infrastructure. The data center operates fully off the grid, without an external backup. 'We still expect [the microgrid] to be very, very reliable,' Straubel says. 'In some cases, it might be more reliable, because we have less failure points.' To make it possible to avoid the grid completely, the team built a relatively large amount of solar power and large battery capacity. In other cases, the company will build microgrids that do have a grid connection, but allow data centers to run on their own renewable energy most of the time. Some projects could also be built with backup from gas generators. But there are advantages to off-grid renewable projects. Why companies want to go off the grid Off-grid projects are faster than other alternatives. Right now, the wait time for a new gas turbine can be as long as seven years. Connecting large new renewable energy projects to the grid also takes years because of long delays in the permitting process. A self-contained microgrid can avoid waiting in the interconnection queue. And if it's fully renewable, like the project from Redwood and Crusoe, it can also avoid the long process to get air quality permits. All that a project needs is simple construction permits. The process to build can also happen quickly. (Crusoe's own data center infrastructure, which uses modular, self-contained small units, is also fast to deploy. The new data center is already running in test mode and will be available for Crusoe's cloud customers to use in the coming weeks.) Because renewable energy is cheap, and Redwood's battery system is also affordable, the microgrids can compete head to head with fossil fuels. 'We're seeing prices now that I think are below what you can do with the gas microgrid,' says Straubel. All of this means that even if a tech company doesn't have sustainability as its first priority when it builds a new data center, the microgrid can still be a compelling choice. 'It seems that in this moment, speed and power availability is the number-one topic,' Straubel says. 'Maybe number two would be overall economics. Number three is sustainability. Not to say that people don't care about that—I feel that most of our customers care quite deeply about it. But there's a lot of pressure for everyone to grow fast and balance all these other constraints while doing it.' The potential for scale Data center providers that want to use solar power need to find land in the right location. But one recent analysis found that there was more than enough available land in the U.S. to support the massive energy demand from new data centers—far more than even high-end projections that say that we may need a staggering 300 gigawatts of new energy by 2030 to cover growth. That analysis looked at the feasibility of microgrids that were 90% renewable and 10% gas-powered. But it mapped out potential sites in detail, and points to areas that could also potentially be used for 100% renewable projects. Redwood is already working on other microgrids for other data centers. And over time, as more used EV batteries become available, they can play a greater role for the grid overall. 'The volumes in the automotive and transportation sector are so much higher than in the grid sector,' Straubel says. 'Over the long term, I believe that EV batteries—trucks, cars, robotaxis, all of it—will have an extremely significant role to play in really all bulk energy storage.' It can help the cost of energy storage come down, which is key to helping renewables fully scale up. 'Renewables are our cheapest source of generation today,' he says. 'And I think that's only going to expand. But they're intermittent. We have to find a cost-efficient way to deliver firm, reliable, renewable energy if we have a hope of scaling it. And to me, that is really the long-term main application.' The extended deadline for Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Awards is this Friday, June 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microgrid Implementation Market to Reach $142.8 Billion by 2035, Growing at 14.5% CAGR--Exclusive Report by Meticulous Research®
Market Growth Driven by Power Grid Resilience Needs, Renewable Energy Integration, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Energy Security Concerns REDDING, Calif., June 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled " Microgrid Implementation Market: Size & Forecast by Grid Type (Grid-Connected, Off-Grid, Hybrid), Power Source (Solar PV, Wind Turbines, Fuel Cells, CHP, Diesel, Natural Gas), Connectivity (AC, DC, Hybrid AC/DC) & End User - Global Forecast and Analysis to 2035", the microgrid implementation market is projected to reach $142.8 billion by 2035, up from an estimated $36.8 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 14.5% during the forecast period. The growth of the microgrid implementation market is mainly driven by a convergence of critical energy infrastructure trends. The increasing frequency of power outages and grid failures worldwide has created an urgent need for resilient distributed energy solutions that can maintain operational continuity for critical facilities. Simultaneously, accelerating integration of renewable energy sources and supportive government initiatives are opening unprecedented possibilities for sustainable energy independence, making what was once considered supplementary infrastructure now increasingly essential for energy security. Substantial investments from both established energy management companies and innovative technology firms are accelerating market development, demonstrating strong confidence in the transformative potential of distributed energy systems. The growing adoption of AI and IoT technologies in grid management further amplifies this momentum, with organizations recognizing the critical importance of intelligent energy solutions that can dramatically enhance operational efficiency and system reliability. For more comprehensive insights, download the FREE report sample: Market Drivers and Technology Evolution The microgrid implementation market is experiencing remarkable transformation through increasingly sophisticated integration between traditional grid infrastructure and cutting-edge distributed energy technologies. These innovations are driving rapid advancement in smart grid solutions and renewable energy systems, creating a robust technological foundation that addresses critical challenges in energy resilience and sustainability across diverse industries. "The convergence of renewable energy technologies with intelligent grid management is revolutionizing how organizations approach energy security," said Khushal Bombe, research analyst at Meticulous Research®. "Critical infrastructure operators are witnessing unprecedented opportunities to achieve energy independence while maintaining grid connectivity for optimal operational flexibility." Emerging trends demonstrate a multifaceted approach to market development. Manufacturers are intensely focusing on AI and IoT integration to enhance operational efficiency, developing blockchain-based energy trading platforms for peer-to-peer transactions, and creating comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for grid protection. The industry is witnessing a significant shift towards community and campus microgrids, with particular emphasis on creating versatile energy solutions that can seamlessly operate in both grid-connected and island modes. Growth Opportunities and Market Expansion The market presents significant growth opportunities that extend far beyond traditional power generation paradigms. Electrification of remote areas offers the potential to create comprehensive off-grid solutions, addressing critical energy access challenges in underserved regions. Commercial applications are rapidly expanding beyond basic power supply, exploring specialized domains such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure, energy storage integration, and smart city development. Particularly promising areas include declining costs of renewable energy technologies improving project economics, advancements in energy storage solutions enhancing system capabilities, and the emergence of innovative financing models. The potential for integrated smart grid connectivity and community-scale energy independence represents a significant frontier of market expansion. Get Insightful Data on Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, and Top Companies: Market Challenges and Implementation Barriers Despite the market's immense potential, significant challenges persist. High initial implementation costs continue to delay project deployment across multiple sectors. Technical integration complexities with existing grid infrastructure remain a critical constraint, particularly in establishing seamless grid synchronization and managing interoperability standards across diverse technology platforms. Economic challenges include regulatory barriers and policy uncertainties affecting project financing, current limitations in energy storage technology impacting system efficiency, and complex business model development for sustainable operations. Organizations must also navigate varying international standards, address cybersecurity requirements, and work to gain regulatory approval for innovative distributed energy configurations. "While technological capabilities are advancing rapidly, the industry must address fundamental challenges around standardization and grid integration," noted Uddhav Sable, Research Director at Meticulous Research®. "Success will depend on developing solutions that demonstrate clear economic value while maintaining seamless compatibility with existing energy infrastructure." Segment Analysis and Technology Leadership The Grid-Connected segment is expected to hold the largest market share in 2025, with reliable grid backup capabilities being the dominant advantage due to widespread infrastructure compatibility. However, Hybrid microgrid systems are anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR, offering promising solutions that combine grid-connected and off-grid operational modes while maintaining optimal flexibility for varying energy requirements. Based on power source technology, Solar PV systems are projected to dominate, accounting for the largest market share in 2025. Notably, the Fuel Cells segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR, offering advanced clean power generation capabilities for critical applications requiring continuous operation. Based on end-user applications, Commercial & Industrial facilities will hold the largest market share in 2025, with Healthcare facilities projected to grow at the highest CAGR of 17.9%, highlighting the critical importance of uninterrupted power for life-saving medical operations. Regional Market Leadership and Growth Dynamics North America is expected to hold the largest market share in 2025, accounting for the majority of global market value. This leadership position is mainly attributed to advanced grid infrastructure, progressive energy policies, and high awareness of energy resilience benefits among critical infrastructure operators. However, the Asia-Pacific region is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by rapid industrialization, increasing power reliability concerns, and extensive investments in renewable energy infrastructure development across China, India, and Australia. Access the complete market analysis: Competitive Landscape and Industry Innovation The global microgrid implementation market features a diverse and dynamic competitive landscape. Established energy management companies are competing alongside specialized microgrid solution providers and emerging technology firms, each pursuing unique approaches to distributed energy system development and intelligent grid integration. Key players operating in the overall microgrid implementation market include Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, ABB Ltd., General Electric, Eaton Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., S&C Electric Company, Power Analytics Corporation, Spirae LLC, Emerson Electric Co., Bloom Energy Corporation, Engie, Tesla Inc., Toshiba Corporation, and Ameresco Inc. among others. About Meticulous Research® We are a trusted research partner for leading businesses worldwide, empowering Fortune 500 organizations and emerging enterprises with market intelligence designed to drive revenue transformation and strategic growth. Our insights reveal future growth opportunities, equipping clients with a competitive edge through a versatile suite of research solutions—including syndicated reports, custom research, and direct analyst engagement. Each year, we conduct over 300 syndicated studies and manage 60+ consulting engagements across eight major sectors and 20+ geographic markets, all to deliver targeted business insights that help our clients lead in a rapidly evolving global market. To find out more, visit or follow us on LinkedIn Contact:Mr. Khushal BombeMeticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd.1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding,California, 96001, +1-646-781-8004Europe: +44-203-868-8738APAC: +91 744-7780008Email: sales@ Our Website: with us on LinkedIn: Source: Logo: View original content: SOURCE Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
How a 1,200-person village in Senegal traded diesel generators for solar power
On the southern border of Senegal lies a small village called Keur Niangane. The roughly 1,200 residents of this village reside in a desert zone, hours away from the capital of Dakar. This village is north of the intestine-shaped carve-out country of the Republic of the Gambia and the mouth of its twisty river that leads out to the sea. Here, electricity has historically been a challenge–until recently, that is. Through a partnership between ChargePoint and Africa GreenTec, a 'Solartainer' is now in place to power up the community. Basically, this sustainable microgrid is a shipping container plated with 144 solar panels, containing enough battery storage to create a predictable, stable source of energy Imagine life with unstable power. In America, we're so used to a consistent power grid in most places that when we have any kind of outage, we panic. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electricity usage varies significantly per household by day, time of day, and year. For example, power use is high in the summer when air conditioning use is in full swing. On average, the DoE says a typical American household uses 920 kWh of electricity per month, and appliances alone account for 64.7 percent of electricity consumption. Hair dryers, coffee makers, refrigerators, televisions, wifi routers…these everyday gadgets all require energy to run. Before the ChargePoint project, Keur Niangane had no access to centralized electricity or public lighting, says Dr. Wolfgang Rams, CEO of Africa GreenTec. Households relied on candles, kerosene lamps, or basic solar home systems, which were insufficient for productive activities. Small businesses often used diesel generators, which can be costly, noisy, polluting, and prone to fuel shortages and breakdowns. The International Energy Agency issued a report in 2020 showing that nearly 70 percent of Senegal was connected to the national grid. Truthfully, Rams says, while the community is enthusiastic about gaining access to reliable, clean energy and the opportunities it brings for development, safety, and comfort, some residents expressed a preference for connection to the national grid. However, extending the central grid to remote areas like Keur Niangane 'would be prohibitively expensive due to the need for long-distance medium-voltage transmission infrastructure.' 'This decentralized approach offers a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable alternative,' Rams told Popular Science. With the Solartainer in place, the village has access to clean, solar-powered electricity. This enables small enterprises to power machinery, expand operations, and increase income, Rams says, which creates jobs and stimulates local economic growth. Plus, technicians are trained and employed to maintain and service the sites; as it is, the setup doesn't require much maintenance. 'Productive energy use is central to our approach, as it fosters community entrepreneurship, generates new opportunities, and creates ripple effects that uplift the entire village,' Rams says. Through Africa GreenTech, project sites are based on several criteria, including population density, distance to the national power grid and paved roads, and the spatial distribution of homes. Keur Niangane in Senegal is one of 54 villages chosen under the government-led program for rural electrification through renewable energy. A project like this isn't cheap, and ChargePoint used money from selling its carbon credits on the open market through the EU Emissions Trading System. This program, which requires polluters to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions, was launched in 2005 and operates in all EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. By selling carbon credits earned through 10,000 EV chargers in Germany, ChargePoint raised enough funds for Senegal's Solartainer. 'If a company can prove it's trying to contain emissions, it can trade these certificates,' explains Andreas Blin, Senior Manager Solution Partners for ChargePoint. For every kilowatt used to recharge a car through ChargePoint's network in the EU, the company is earning credits. If you think about it, Blin says, it's a 'really cool thing' to finance the replacement of Keur Niangane's diesel generators with money earned from EVs, which use electric motors instead of gas-powered engines. ChargePoint's long-term goal is to keep earning credits and continue funding this project for the foreseeable future. All in, now Keur Niangane has a solar capacity of 56 kWp (kilowatt-peak, or the maximum power a solar panel system can produce under ideal conditions) and it's connected to a five-kilometer mini-grid, providing clean electricity to 1,207 people in 149 households. The team also installed 55 solar-powered streetlights, significantly improving public safety, extending productive hours into the evening, and enhancing quality of life.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Science
- CTV News
University of Regina unveils renewable energy microgrid
WATCH: A new microgrid that relies on renewable energy is up and running at the University of Regina. Damian Smith reports. Green is the colour, not just for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but also for the University of Regina – as the organization has unveiled a new microgrid system which relies on renewable energy. The U of R's greenhouse gas technology centre is host to a power generator capable of producing several hundred megawatts. It's part of the university's research efforts on microgrids – a small-scale power grid that can produce electricity for a localized area. 'Microgrids provide a lot of benefits, including advanced stability, lower costs, and new usability of, of generation,' explained Irfan Al Anbagi, an associate professor in the faculty of engineering and applied science. 'The control system is the brain of the micro. So everything is located in one area.' The researchers say it's the first of its kind in Saskatchewan – and the university has partnered with small to medium sized businesses to put the grid to use. Those with electric vehicles can also make use of the microgrid through free chargers just outside the facility. Off campus, microgrids can help make renewable energy easier to access – especially in areas where connecting to a regular power grid is much more difficult. 'This can be beneficial to locations where you have difficulty supplying over. and you can utilize renewable generation as well,' Al-Anbagi added. For now, the microgrid is powered by solar. However, in the longer term, the team hopes their efforts can help renewable energy power the entire U of R campus. '[This] allows, like a sandbox environment for small and medium sized enterprises to use, as well as larger utilities like SaskPower, to test out or model,' Gregory Mack, the director of research partnerships and innovation explained. 'It's very useful and they can work with professors and students on campus.' Based on the lifespan of the solar cells and the lithium-ion batteries – the microgrid is expected to keep on producing energy with its current set-up for approximately 20 years.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
University of Regina unveils province's 1st microgrid lab for clean energy research
The University of Regina has opened the doors to a new lab that aims to help reshape how energy is produced and used across Saskatchewan. The Microgrid Living Lab, a first-of-its-kind facility in the province, was launched as a hub for clean energy research, development and education in Saskatchewan. "About six per cent of generated power is lost in transmission. So in microgrids, we don't have that," said Irfan Al-Anbagi, an associate professor in electronic systems engineering and the lab's director. The lab functions off the main power grid. It's capable of generating, storing and distributing its own electricity, according to the university. "Everything is located in one area: generation, storage and control, and loads," Al-Anbagi said. "So less power dissipation, less power burned out in transmission. And this can be beneficial to locations where you have difficulty supplying power and you can utilize renewable generation as well in these locations." The lab draws power from renewable sources including solar panels, wind and hydro power. It emulates how microgrids could perform in real-world conditions, with the hope of identify more sustainable and flexible models for powering homes, businesses and remote communities in the province, the university says. Al-Anbagi said. "Supplying electricity to these locations can be expensive and hard and sometimes impossible." Multiple functions Al-Anbagi expects the microgrid to play a major role in teaching, experimental setups and research. "Currently I have two students, my colleague has two students. So in the future, we want to increase that number," Al-Anbagi said. He hopes students will use the micogrid as a hands-on tool. "The students appreciate the concept when they come and see it, compared to when they look at it in pictures, and they can also do some lab experiments." Al-Anbagi has also reached out to small- and medium-sized enterprises in the city that may be interested in using the lab for their own development and testing. "If an organization or company develops solar panels and they want to integrate the power into the control system, do real-time monitoring, real-time connectivity, they're welcome to use this system," Al-Anbagi said. The lab currently generates 10 kilowatts of solar power, enough to power a residential building or multiple homes. When the energy isn't being used for teaching or research, it's stored in "islanded mode," meaning it's kept separate from the university's main power grid. "We don't want to disrupt the main power supply of the university," Al-Anbagi said. "I think it's safer to disconnect the microgrid from the main university supply to do our own experiments." That energy is sometimes then sent into the university system to help power lights, air conditioning and other infrastructure. Powering Saskatchewan The biggest potential for the lab lies not in its present use, but in how it could shape the future of energy in Saskatchewan, according to Al-Anbagi. The province's unique energy challenges, from isolated northern communities to growing urban centers, make it a prime testing ground for microgrid solutions, he said. "It's not a lot of power, but I think it adds up," Al-Anbagi said. While microgrids aren't entirely new to Western Canada, this marks the first fully functional one of its kind in Saskatchewan.
