Wisconsin-based We Energies is examining various scenarios for the development of a community microgrid to encourage development of the Century City industrial park in Milwaukee through value-added energy services. With help from EPRI, the utility has conducted a feasibility study examining technical issues—including proper sizing of distributed energy resources (DER)—and analyzed the economics of different microgrid possibilities.

A properly designed and configured integrated energy pilot, with on-site renewable electric generation and potentially energy storage, would allow Century City to provide features that would provide significant economic value to companies seeking to expand their operations at the new site, providing tenants the capability to effectively participate in grid flexibility needs and associated value streams through appropriate integration approaches (control interfaces, dynamic prices, etc.).

Distributed energy resources will connect to this new distribution system to optimally supplement the needs of the industrial park. We Energies will explore the option to install and own these distributed resource facilities, and will operate them for the benefit of the Century City companies. These distributed resources may include:

• photovoltaic solar
• reciprocating internal-combustion engines (RICE), either operating in stand-a-lone mode, or providing combined heat-and-power (CHP)
• a bio-gas facility providing electricity and/or methane for use by the Century City customers
• an advanced geo-thermal generation system
• electric energy storage system(s)