Direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) are two ways that energy can be transmitted in our current energy system. New generation sources, like solar panels, batteries and electronic devices, use DC energy while power plants generate and utility power lines transmit AC. Energy needs to be converted from AC to DC or DC to AC and back again before reaching its final end use. Every one of these conversations results in wasted energy.
The Alliance Center’s DC microgrid removes the need for this conversion and makes it possible for us to take energy directly from our generators and power our building.
It’s estimated that two-thirds of energy from coal fired powered plants in our current system is lost from waste heat and distribution process. Distributed energy microgrids, where energy is generated and used on the same site, avoids these losses.
Microgrids can also keep key systems operational during power outages or issues with the wider electrical grid. This offers benefits for both short term interruptions as well as larger scale outages.
Commercial buildings consume roughly half of our nation’s energy and native DC equipment (LED lights, mechanical components, etc.) comprises over 50 percent of a building’s total energy load. The Department of Energy projects that over 80 percent of energy will flow through electronics converters by 2030.
That hot bulky thing on your laptops power cord is an electronics converter, changing alternating current from the grid to direct current. The heat is energy lost from the conversion. Removing the need for this conversion reduces the energy consumed. Microgrids present an opportunity to save energy, money and greenhouse gases generated from our electrical grid.
Field test DC distribution equipment to provide the wider market with the real-world data needed to evaluate the potential costs and benefits of deploying DC microgrids
Identify the technical and operational limitations preventing the wider adoption of DC distribution
Provide a key real-world test of a DC microgrid’s efficiency gains and corresponding energy savings going straight from DC generation (solar in our case) to native DC equipment without any conversions along the way
Summer 2014 – Early Discussions
Spring 2015 – Collaboration efforts begin
Winter 2015 – DC installation design efforts begin
Spring 2016 – Data collection begins for AC network for baseline comparisons
Fall 2016 – Formal plans submitted to City of Denver
Fall 2017 – Construction began
Fall 2017 – Project becomes part of a larger National Renewable Energy Laboratory study
Winter 2017 (Ongoing) – System testing began
Fall 2018 – Microgrid partner goes under
Fall 2019 – System is operational
