SMGC 2013 - Military Smart Girds

The world microgrid market topped $4 billion in 2010, and according to a recent Congressional study the military microgrid market alone is projected to increase by 375% from 2010-2020. Microgrids, localized groupings of power generation, storage and load management units, can operate, if necessary or by design, independently from the larger power grid. Because of their size and flexibility, they are able to incorporate alternative sources of energy more easily and promise to provide increased reliability and security, critically important for both military installations (fixed and mobile) and for homeland security/the national power grid. Emerging “smart grid” technologies, including advanced metering, transmission efficiencies, smart switches, enhanced demand response capabilities, distribution automation, energy management systems, electric vehicle integration, microelectronics, integrated communication systems and others, may pave the way for the creation of “intelligent,” self-managing energy grids.