This Navigant Research webinar will explore perspectives on what is and what is not a microgrid. More importantly, it will challenge some long-standing assumptions about microgrids, pointing to a new way to grow markets for distributed energy resources (DER) projects at scale. The primary value propositions for microgrids will be reviewed, as well as the diversity of services DER in general can provide.
The webinar will also explore what role customers should play by quantifying what they need from vendors, rather than being convinced they need to have a trendy solution (i.e. microgrid, virtual power plant, or Internet of Things).
Peter Asmus, principal research analyst at Navigant Research, will be joined by Sunil Cherian, Founder and CEO of Spirae, Darrin Johnston, Customer Solutions Manager for Microgrids at Caterpillar, and Geoff Sharples, Energy Sales Director at Intel to show how solutions providers can move toward configurable microgrids leveraging recent advances in intelligent software.
Ten key considerations will be identified that can lead to exponential growth in microgrids. If followed, these steps will ensure DER projects no longer fall victim to costly development approaches that often fail.
Key Topics:
- Microgrid definitions
- Why microgrid projects often fail
- How microgrid projects can succeed
- The growing role for software in DER projects
- How customers can best ensure a successful DER project
What does this webinar answer?
- How do microgrids and distributed energy resources (DER) align with the Energy Cloud?
- Why do so many microgrids never move beyond the initial feasibility and engineering studies?
- What are the eight fundamental services that a microgrid can provide?
- What can the concept of jailbreaking from a smartphone carrier teach us about microgrids?
- What is the best path forward for microgrids: customize or standardize?
Who needs to attend?
- Potential and existing microgrid customers
- Utilities
- DER software and hardware vendors
- Local governments
- Government regulators
- Investor community
