The American Public Power Association recognized EPB’s Power to Protect microgrid with an Energy Innovator Award during its National Conference earlier this month.
“The Energy Innovator Award recognizes utilities that develop creative techniques and technologies to improve the efficient delivery of energy services in their communities through the implementation of new projects and programs,” said Paul Zummo, director, Research & Development, APPA. “Sharing the achievements of members like EPB can inspire innovation and create a positive impact that benefits customers throughout the country who depend on public power utilities.”
Officials said, "Following the Easter 2020 tornadoes, 62,000 homes were left without power and EPB’s electric grid suffered nearly $40 million in damage.
To improve resilience during future storms, EPB and the City of Chattanooga created the Power to Protect microgrid, which included the purchase and installation of a 500 kW/1000 kWh battery system, a 200-kW diesel generator, and 155 kW of solar panels at its Police Department administrative headquarters. The battery, charged by the solar array, can support the full load of the site during an outage, ensuring continued operation of the emergency services building. Throughout the year, energy generated by the solar installation helps to offset the cost of electricity for the Police Department while the 1,000-kilowatt-hour battery also helps reduce EPB’s monthly peak electricity demand."
“Power to Protect serves two important purposes. First, it preserves critical resources in an emergency by making electric services more resilient for our city’s emergency response capabilities. Second, it reduces the peak cost EPB must pay for energy, which helps us keep rates lower for customers over time,” said EPB CEO David Wade. “We continue to focus our efforts on growing EPB’s Local Energy Mix to make our grid even more dependable and increase the power resources based in own community.”
"Because utilizing energy storage reduces peak demand charges, EPB's investment will pay for itself within six to seven years, and will continue to provide value well beyond the cost of purchasing and installing the equipment," officials said.
The Energy Innovator Program recognizes members of APPA’s research program, Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments, which nurtures innovation in public power. In addition to EPB, recipients included CDE Lightband in Clarksville, Tn. and New York Power Authority in White Plains, NY.