CHAMPAIGN, Ill., May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its
commitment to innovation and building a smarter, clean energy
infrastructure, Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) announced completion
of one of the most technologically advanced utility-scale
microgrids in North America. The $5
million facility, located at Ameren's Technology
Applications Center (TAC) adjacent to the University of Illinois campus in Champaign, Illinois, is one of the only
utility-scale microgrids in the nation capable of serving live
(paying) customer loads on an actual utility distribution
feeder.
As larger companies and high energy users seek to become more
energy independent, Ameren built the microgrid facility to test
monitoring and control methods for aggregating clean, renewable
energy sources – wind, solar, and natural gas – with advanced
automation and battery storage. The Ameren microgrid is one
of the few in the world that operate at utility-scale voltages,
between 4-kilovolts and 34.5-kilovolts, with multiple levels of
control. It is the only known microgrid in the nation capable
of seamlessly transitioning the power source for an entire
distribution circuit from exclusively distributed generation
sources to the traditional grid. This concept, known as
"islanding", enables Ameren to deliver more than 1-megawatt to live
(paying) customers without experiencing an outage.
"Integrating microgrids onto our system can provide cleaner
energy and a stronger, smarter grid capable of delivering the
products and services to fit the needs of our future customers and
the communities we serve," said Warner
Baxter, chairman, president and CEO of Ameren Corporation.
"There is no better time than now to innovate and position Ameren
for even better results in the years ahead."
The Ameren microgrid can produce up to 1,475 kilowatts, enough
to power more than 190 homes. The leased generation assets
located on site include:
- Northern Power Systems Wind Turbine – 100 kilowatts
- Yingli Solar Array – 125 kilowatts
- Caterpillar Natural Gas Generator – 1,000 kilowatts
- S&C Electric Company Battery Storage – 250 kilowatts
"Our focus on building a next generation energy delivery system
has enabled Illinois to emerge as
a national leader in smart grid innovation," said Richard J. Mark, Chairman and President of
Ameren Illinois. "As the technologies we are testing at this
microgrid facility become more accessible in the future, our
customers will be able to count on Ameren Illinois to help them
safely install and cost-effectively operate distributed generation
resources."
The microgrid is a key element of Ameren's investment in
developing a smarter energy infrastructure. Along with the
microgrid advancements, Ameren Illinois has added new equipment and
technology to reduce outages and improve overall reliability.
This summer, Ameren Illinois will begin installing 83,000 smart
meters at customer locations in Champaign County. These
advanced, two-way devices will provide Ameren Illinois customers
with energy use data and easy access to programs to reduce energy
and save money.
Construction on the Ameren microgrid was completed in
December 2016, followed by testing in
the first quarter of 2017.
To learn more about Ameren Illinois' electric and gas
modernization projects, visit AmerenIllinois.com,
Facebook.com/AmerenIllinois, and Twitter @AmerenIllinois.
About Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren
Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric
customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a
64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren
Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois
provides electric distribution and transmission service, as well as
natural gas distribution service, while Ameren Missouri provides
vertically integrated electric service, with generating capacity of
over 10,200 megawatts, and natural gas distribution service. Ameren
Transmission Company of Illinois
develops regional electric transmission projects. Follow the
company on Twitter @AmerenCorp. For more information, visit
Ameren.com.
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SOURCE Ameren Corporation