North America | November 22, 2024

Duke Energy Pioneers Microgrid for Fleet Electrification

This microgrid represents a significant advancement in the integration of renewable energy, energy storage, and electric vehicles.

 

Image for illustration purposes.

Duke Energy has launched an innovative microgrid solution to support the electrification of vehicle fleets. This groundbreaking project, located at the company’s Mount Holly Technology and Innovation Center in North Carolina, demonstrates a new approach to powering electric vehicle (EV) fleets whilst enhancing grid resilience.

The microgrid integrates several cutting-edge technologies:

1. A 1 MW solar array
2. A 1 MW/2 MWh battery energy storage system
3. Bi-directional EV chargers
4. An advanced microgrid controller

This system can operate independently from the main grid, providing reliable power to the EV fleet even during outages. The bi-directional chargers allow vehicles to both receive charge and return power to the microgrid, creating a flexible and resilient energy ecosystem.

The microgrid serves multiple purposes:

1. Powering Duke Energy’s EV fleet
2. Supporting grid stability during peak demand periods
3. Providing emergency power during outages
4. Testing and demonstrating new technologies for fleet electrification

By using renewable energy and storage, the microgrid reduces reliance on fossil fuels and decreases the carbon footprint of fleet operations. The project also explores how large-scale fleet electrification can be managed without overburdening the existing power grid.

Duke Energy plans to use insights from this pilot to develop similar solutions for other businesses looking to electrify their fleets. The company sees this as a crucial step in supporting the broader adoption of electric vehicles while maintaining grid reliability.

Source: Power Grid International