AGRION

 

 

New York State has announced NY Prize, a first-in-the nation $40 million competition to create community microgrid systems that reduce costs, promote clean energy, and build reliability and resiliency into the electric grid.

 

AGRION will host a webinar to discuss details about NY Prize, including competition detail and eligibility requirements. In addition, speakers will highlight key takeaways from the recently completed Critical Facility Resiliency Study, now available online.

 

NY Prize is a key part of a statewide endeavor to modernize New York State’s electric grid, spurring innovation and community partnerships with utilities, local governments, and the private sector.

 

Microgrids are defined by the U.S. Department of Energy as a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DER) with clearly defined electrical boundaries. The microgrids acts as a single, controllable entity and can connect and disconnect from the state power grid to enable it to operate in both grid-connected or island mode. Traditionally, "campus-style" microgrids in New York have served only one user behind the meter.

 

NY Prize’s purpose is to connect multiple users through distributed energy resources with more reliable and efficient energy sources, benefitting those customers as well as the bulk-power grid during normal operating conditions.  Potential applicants -- including local governments, community organizations, utilities and businesses – will be asked to identify target locations (through feasibility and design) that serve at least one critical infrastructure customer in addition to a commercial, residential or industrial load, and then build a system with support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

 

While any project in the state is eligible, projects targeting storm-impacted communities and projects in low- and moderate-income communities are encouraged to apply. At this first stage, funding of up to $100,000 per project will be provided by NYSERDA for feasibility studies with no cost-share required. Additional funding in stages 2 and 3 of up to $7 million will be available for communities.