U.S. Solar Power Microgrids Under Construction for Multiple Sectors

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Written by Eric Funderburk for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are more than $3 billion of active solar power microgrid projects throughout the United States, ranging in their timelines from the early planning stages through active construction.

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A Nationwide Trend

Solar microgrids are sprouting up throughout the United States for a variety of enterprises. Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than 50 solar microgrid projects across the U.S. for purposes ranging from airports to municipal facilities to universities. Microgrids are smaller, self-contained power systems that provide power to a city, company, industrial facility or other organization, either as baseload power or in times of high demand or grid outages. According to Industrial Info Resources data, more than $3 billion worth of these solar microgrids are being planned or are actively under construction in the U.S. Industrial Info Resources has rated just shy of $2 billion worth of these as having a medium to high probability (70-100%) of moving forward as planned.

Solar Microgrid Projects Under Construction

Industrial Info Resources is tracking several U.S. solar microgrid that are under construction. The largest of these is at the Dulles International Airport that serves Washington, D.C., where a microgrid is being constructed that includes 100 megawatts (MW) of solar power on a ground-mounted array, another 2 MW coming from solar panels on car parks and a 50-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) for use during times of low solar generation. Industrial Info Resources has tracked the $50 million project since 2019, noting that construction started in early 2024 and is expected to end later this year. Subscribers to Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here to learn more about the project.

According to Industrial Info Resources data, another much smaller 12-MW solar array is under construction at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in the New York City area. That project is expected to wrap up this summer. Subscribers can click here to learn more about the project.

Industrial Info Resources is tracking other solar microgrids under construction, including projects at two University of Michigan campuses (Flint and Dearborn) as well as the City of San Diego installing solar microgrids at a fire station and two recreation centers.

Planned & Engineered Solar Microgrid Projects

According to Industrial Info Resources data, there are many other U.S. solar microgrids in the planning and engineering stages. Similarly to what is under construction, planned projects include those airports, universities, as well as other San Diego projects at fire and police stations.

According to Industrial Info Resources data, solar power is only one component of a 65-MW microgrid system expected to begin construction this summer at the University of California's Berkeley campus. In addition to 12 MW of rooftop solar, UC Berkeley plans to implement 8 MW of green hydrogen-ready fuel cells and 45 MW of battery energy storage. Subscribers can click here to learn more about the project.

Key Takeaways

• Industrial Info Resources is tracking more than 50 active solar microgrid projects, valued at more than $3 billion, across the U.S.
• Airports, university campuses and municipal facilities are popular destinations for solar microgrids in the U.S.
• One of the largest microgrids with a primarily solar component is being constructed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C.

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  About Industrial Info Resources
  Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, Industrial Info Resources is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 trillion (USD).