Microgrid Testing for Coastal Energy Resilience

Testing of electricity generation and storage at a microgrid scale

Solar panels on top of a building on the coast of Sequim bay, connected to energy microgrid infrastructure

Solar panels on top of a PNNL-Sequim building, with a battery energy storage system to the right of the building.

(Photo by Shanon Dell | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

PNNL-Sequim has integrated energy storage and control capabilities that can facilitate microgrid and energy controls research. These capabilities were developed through the Integrated Renewable Energy System (IRES) project, funded by the Washington State Clean Energy Fund through the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The infrastructure set up by IRES can facilitate testing of marine energy and blue economy technologies—potentially saving developers months of time and thousands of dollars per project—and enables research into the use of microgrids to support maritime businesses and increase the energy resilience of coastal populations. Additionally, IRES supported the development of a network of environmental sensors that collect baseline data on weather and water conditions in Sequim Bay that can be accessed through a public web-based dashboard.

diagram of various energy generation sources and uses, to show microgrid infrastructure set up for testing at PNNL-Sequim — IRES brings together capabilities in the energy generation and load testing fields at a microgrid scale to answer research questions on energy resiliency and stability. (Design by Ben Watson | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

Offshore: Interconnection of Marine Energy and Other Technologies

The infrastructure developed through IRES, as well as the Department of Energy–funded Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and Cabled Research Array for the Blue Economy and Energy (CRABEE), enables PNNL-Sequim to perform research on marine electrical load and generation integration. These interconnected projects make it possible to tie together offshore energy generation sources, such as marine or solar energy devices, with technologies that use the generated energy, such as onshore sensors and systems or offshore research vessels.

This connected infrastructure allows for new equipment that requires power or power generation technologies, like tidal turbines, to be installed in Sequim Bay and connected to the on-shore BESS via CRABEE, the cable array installed on the seabed of Sequim Bay. Each node of this array can facilitate up to 10 kW of power transmission and includes data lines for bidirectional communication and monitoring. This infrastructure, combined with the extensive marine deployment experience of researchers at PNNL-Sequim, makes this an ideal location for innovative marine research.

Onshore: Microgrid Monitoring and Energy Storage

The IRES project also involved the installation of comprehensive load monitoring technologies for analyzing the energy use and generation in the whole connected system. This information can be used to inform future infrastructure investments at PNNL-Sequim or the design of other coastal microgrid systems. For example, analysis of the power draw during charging of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s hybrid electric research vessel can inform the broader application of hybrid vessels and associated infrastructure at marinas and ports.

Located on the coast of Washington State, the PNNL-Sequim campus is sometimes at risk of partial or full power outages because of its remote connection to the main electricity grid for the state. The energy generation, analysis, and storage offered by IRES can help researchers understand how coastal regions can create more stable energy infrastructure to support a more resilient microgrid or connection to a larger grid. Solar panels on top of one of the campus buildings connect to the BESS so that energy generated during periods of sunny weather can be tapped during times of cloudy weather or power outage.