#United States #Washington, D.C. #Community Solar #Gallaudet University #Microgrid Project

Gallaudet University: A New Era in Energy Sustainability

Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., known for being the world's first university for the deaf and hard of hearing, has recently made significant strides in energy sustainability. In 2023, the university introduced one of the largest microgrids in the capital, designed not only to drastically reduce energy costs but also to provide considerable benefits to the surrounding community.

What is a Microgrid?

A microgrid is a localized energy system capable of operating independently from the larger utility grid. It combines various distributed energy resources, such as solar panels and battery storage, allowing institutions like Gallaudet to generate their own electricity efficiently. This innovative system includes hundreds of solar panels installed across seven rooftops, providing the university with the ability to store surplus energy and utilize it when necessary.

Dave Good, director of energy, utilities, and sustainability at Gallaudet University, highlights the financial advantages, stating, "The main reason for the microgrid is it's going to save the university a lot of money. We anticipate it will save about 40% on our energy bills each year, which translates into millions of dollars in savings."

Community Benefits

Beyond financial savings, the microgrid serves vital community needs. It acts as a sustainable backup during power outages, a crucial feature amid increasing instances of severe weather. Additionally, Gallaudet's microgrid contributes to Washington's community solar program, incentivizing local residents with credits on their electricity bills and allowing them to benefit from clean energy. Over 400 households have enrolled in this initiative, enjoying savings of up to 10% on their monthly electric bills. Good emphasizes, "We have all this space and we're able to maximize the economic and environmental benefits, and the community benefits through the community solar program."

Collaboration and Development

The journey to creating this microgrid was not solitary; it involved collaboration with local experts and organizations such as Urban Ingenuity, an affiliate of Working Power, and Scale Microgrids. These entities contributed their expertise in clean energy financing and distributed resources to ensure the project's success. Recently, a tour was organized for staff from The Pew Charitable Trusts and university faculty to explain the intricacies of the microgrid system, illustrating its potential benefits for not just the campus but the surrounding community as well.

Gallaudet's design incorporates a dedicated point of electricity delivery from Pepco, the local utility, allowing for smooth transitions between the university's microgrid and the main grid when needed. The successful implementation of the project stemmed from a comprehensive microgrid study conducted in 2015 by Urban Ingenuity, with support from the D.C. Department of Energy and Environment.

Educational Insights

Dr. Christopher Hayes, an assistant professor of mathematics at Gallaudet, has taken a keen interest in the microgrid’s implications for education. He sees it as a real-world example to teach students about energy costs and green energy solutions. "Students are naturally interested in green energy, but they rarely know what the costs of electricity are in daily life. The microgrid will provide a concrete example that they can study, illustrating how green energy can be both environmentally and economically viable."

Reliability and Future Prospects

The reliability of the microgrid has also been tested during weather-related outages, where the campus was able to function independently from the main grid. Good expressed satisfaction with the project's proven ability to maintain campus operations during such events, declaring, "When we're disconnected from the grid, that's called 'islanded' because we're on an island of electricity generation on the campus. We've successfully operated the entire campus using our microgrid, proving its viability."

As microgrid technology continues to experience rapid advancements, it is anticipated that more such projects will emerge across the United States, particularly in institutions that necessitate constant power supplies such as hospitals and emergency services.

"It's really a solid economic payback," Good concludes, emphasizing that the microgrid project not only enhances Gallaudet's sustainability but also aligns with its educational mission to support deaf and hard of hearing students.

For those interested in energy modernization and community benefits, Gallaudet University stands as a pioneering example. Visit Energy Modernization | The Pew Charitable Trusts for additional information.