Community Microgrids

HH Heat = x6 max electric demand

230,000 low voltage substations

OpenLV or Microgrid SO230,000 distribution substations

Distribution System Operator14 license areas (380 GSPs)

1 National System Operator(+4 EU Interconnectors)

Introduction to Microgrids

Housebuilders reserve a small area of each development for the construction of community

battery infrastructure.

Here we see the CEPRO developed, Bristol Energy Cooperative community battery and remote

metering monitoring equipment used for operations & maintenance

DESIGNDESIGN

FEASIBILITY

Feasibility Study - Hazelmead, Bridport

Electric Hot Water

Power & Lights

Solar Generation

Air Sourced Hot Water

All Electric Imports

Exports

‘Direct match’

Air Sourced Hot Water

All Electric Imports

Exports

Hot Water Storage

Hot Water Storage

‘Direct match’

Air Sourced Hot Water

All Electric Imports

Exports

Hot Water Storage

Hot Water Storage

‘Direct match’

Direct & Microgrid ‘match’

Microgrid ‘match’

Air Sourced Hot Water

All Electric Imports

Hot Water Storage

Battery Storage &

Hot Water Storage

‘Direct match’

Direct & Microgrid ‘match’

Microgrid ‘match’

Battery Storage

Direct & Microgrid ‘match’

Annual benefits (210 kWp) - Resident ownership

- Public grid

Annual benefits (210 kWp) - CESCo ownership

- Community microgrid

Hazelmead Community ESCo captures extra £12k benefits:

profits are distributed to investors & residents

Switching to Heat Pumps reduces electricity Imports BUT also reduces PV self-use

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Public Grid

Microgrid + Battery

A business case assessment has been provided to Bridport Community Land Trust.

This recommends that the two best options are:

#4. Self funding with 130kWp PV and private air-source heat pumps#14. Foundry funds 210kWp PV and a 340kWh community battery

The Foundry funded option (#14) is neutral for residents while providing an average 7.5% return to CESCo investors over 25 years and reducing carbon emissions from 12 tonnes per year to -10 tonnes per year.

The Foundry funded option (#14) is sensitive to kWh/kWp (solar insolation) but otherwise relatively insensitive to other variables

The ‘Microgrid Foundry’ model

Secure new schemes, form Community ESCOs, procure

microgrids from housebuilders

Customers/Members

Billing and O+M

Supply & Purchase

Agreements

Investors

Wholly owned subsidiaries during construction and first

years of operation

Own and FundIndependent funding

and financial management

Financial regulatory compliance, admin,

share register, dividend repayments, etc

Members BUY energy via a Power Supply Agreement

with the CESCo

Members SELL solar energy via a Power

Purchase Agreement with the CESCo

Framework Project Development Agreement

Year 0

Design & Construction

CEPRO and the Microgrid Foundry secure sites then fund and support

construction of the community energy system

Incubation

The Microgrid Foundry operates and optimises the assets and benchmarks the profitability

Year 1-2

Community Refinance

Local community benefit societies (BenComs) supports the

community to bring the assets into local ownership

Year 2-3

Community Operation

Each community operates their local energy assets for the

financial benefit of their local user members

Year 3+

The Foundry de-risks early stage microgrid projects through a portfolio approach

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