Microgrid Laboratory
A custom-designed space powered directly by solar panels, a battery energy storage system and a combined heat and power generator
Location:
NAIT Main Campus
Edmonton, Alberta
Size:
1,700 sq. ft.
What this space offers
The microgrid laboratory provides an isolated residential-scale electrical system with a unique plug-and-play interface that allows for the testing and validation of new technologies in a fully controllable electrical environment. The microgrid is equipped with multiple Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) as well as programable load sources supporting fully customized load flow and energy simulations.
Suitable for:
- Research and development testing
- Pre-market validation studies
- Energy transition planning
- Solar/battery system sizing and design
Select equipment and features
- 60kW solar generation (via solar panels located on the side wall of NAIT’s Productivity and Innovation Centre)
- Battery bank with 20kW output capacity and 26kWh of storage capacity
- 35kW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generator
- Siemens and Schneider microgrid controllers
- Two programable load banks (13.5kW each/27kW peak load)
- Two plug stations for 3-phase integration of user devices
- Photovoltaic Simulator to simulate a solar source up to 15kW peak
- 200A grid interconnection to increase lab’s flexibility