OREANDA-NEWS. February 10, 2016. One microgrid will already go into operation in Fall 2016 at a Native American reservation. Siemens is currently developing the microgrid at the Blue Lake Rancheria in California in cooperation with the Schatz Energy Research Center of Humboldt State University, which is also in California, and the utility company Pacific Gas & Electric. This microgrid will soon supply electricity to buildings on the reservation including a hotel, casino and designated Red Cross emergency shelter on an area measuring 0.4 square kilometers.

In order to generate environmentally friendly electricity, the microgrid will incorporate a photovoltaic array with an output of 0.5 megawatts (MW), a biomass facility, diesel generators, and a battery storage system with a work capacity of 950 kilowatt-hours (kWh). The photovoltaic array is the biggest in Humboldt County, California, and is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by around 150 metric tons per year.

Siemens is guiding the system architecture of the electric and thermal energy supply systems for the microgrid at the reservation. In doing so, the company is taking into account the different needs and special requirements of the site, including the geographic location and the size of the various loads. The system architecture will support renewable energy generation and advanced control of the electrical infrastructure components.

At Blue Lake Rancheria, Siemens is providing one of the most critical Microgrid system components – the software control.  Siemens has leveraged their expertise in the Utility control center software field to develop a leading Microgrid control solution that addresses the specific needs of Microgrid customers. This software is responsible for managing and controlling the system, and therefore realizing the promised benefits.