Siemens has built an on-site microgrid at its Wendell, North Carolina, facility, combining a 1.25-MW solar carport paired with a 3.9-MWh battery energy storage system.
Siemens’ facility in Wendell, North Carolina. Credit: Siemens
The microgrid, with other campus energy initiatives, has made the site carbon neutral while reducing overall grid energy consumption by 2.5 MWh annually. Siemens has a company goal to reach a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030.
This microgrid will maintain energy access during grid outages, so production of medium-voltate power equipment can continue.
“There is no question that we must do more to lower energy costs for North Carolinians and strengthen the resilience of our electric grid,” said Rep. Deborah Ross (D). “I’m grateful to see Siemens stepping up in Wendell with innovative investments that will expand clean, reliable energy.”
Built using Siemens products, the microgrid solution is composed of the SICAM A8000 Microgrid Controller, fire protection solutions, low-voltage switchboards, low-voltage bolted pressure switches, KACO string inverters, SIPROTEC universal relays, among other hardware solutions. On-site Siemens VersiCharge electric vehicle chargers are also connected to the microgrid, so EVs can be charged via self-generated solar energy.
“The microgrid that we’ve integrated here at our Wendell campus is one of the more advanced microgrids installed in the market today,” said Brian Dula, Siemens USA’s president of electrification and automation. “It’s a true showcase of Siemens’ end-to-end portfolio of products, from generation to consumption and demonstrates not only how we’re making our own operations more efficient but also displays what we can do for our customers.”
Siemens is currently working with Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh to build an on-campus microgrid.
News item from Siemens
