Company to build advanced microgrid

Schneider Electric announced a project with REC Solar to build an advanced microgrid at its Foxboro, Mass., facility. It is funded by the company's microgrid-as-a-service (MaaS) business model and is the third MaaS project with Duke Energy Renewables and REC Solar.

By Schneider Electric March 14, 2018

Schneider Electric announced a project with REC Solar to build an advanced microgrid at its Foxboro, Mass., facility. The microgrid will be funded by Schneider Electric’s microgrid-as-a-service (MaaS) business model—it is the third MaaS project with Duke Energy Renewables and REC Solar—and will offer greater power resilience to help the company better serve its customers. The Foxboro facility operates as Schneider Electric’s Process Automation North American Power Generation Center of Excellence.

Many facilities believe a backup generator is sufficient for power resilience, but typical backup generators are tied only to selected loads and don’t allow facilities to remain fully operational. Adding microgrid and automation capabilities can enhance resilience, prevent outages in the event of grid failure, and allow facilities to maintain operations as usual. Commercial and industrial facilities that experience a power outage will suffer loss of productivity.

The microgrid is designed to provide Schneider Electric increased reliability, cost savings, and sustainable energy production for critical R&D operations and was funded by its MaaS business model, which helps companies build microgrids without needing upfront capital.

"Our customers demand power resilience from the microgrids we install at their sites, and our facilities rely on the same high standards to keep sites online in the event of a grid outage. Through our existing partnership with REC Solar and Duke Energy Renewables, we have seen first-hand the benefits of installing advanced microgrids at commercial and industrial facilities through the MaaS business model," said Mark Feasel, vice president, utility segment, Smart Grid & Microgrid, Schneider Electric. "This microgrid ensures the building will remain operational during unplanned outages, in addition to optimizing the use of our on-site resources that demonstrate Schneider Electric’s commitment to sustainability."

Schneider Electric

www.schneider-electric.com 

– Edited from a Schneider Electric press release by CFE Media. See more Control Engineering energy and power stories.