ARDA DC Microgrid Platform
Why DC in AC world?
Sources - increasingly generate DCIn many parts of the world, including in the United States, Solar PV already represents a majority of newly installed energy capacity.
Solar PV generates DC. So do fuel cells. Even many native AC generation sources, like gas generators, can benefit from connecting to a battery-based DC microgrid by running more efficiently. |
Loads - increasingly consume DCWe may not have noticed it, but DC Loads - like EV Fast Chargers and LED lights - are already pervasive and getting even more so. So are electronics like laptops, servers and cell phones.
Even many native AC Loads, like HVAC systems, are switching to higher efficiency technologies that employ variable speed drives (VFD), which are fed from an internal DC bus, making these loads virtually "camouflaged" DC Loads. |
DER Integration - easier with DCFor commercial/industrial and similar sized applications, integration of distributed energy resources (DER) into microgrids is much easier using DC coupling versus AC coupling. DC coupling requires significantly less upfront engineering and makes it possible to truly commoditize the microgrids.
Interconnection of DC Microgrids to the utility grid is dramatically simplified in comparison with AC Microgrids and requires much less grid capacity. |