A new web-based resource focused on planning and developing sustainable, resilient local government microgrids has been launched by the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s (NJIT) Center for Resilient Design.

Local government microgrids distribute energy to a cluster of physically separated facilities, such as those that provide essential services during and after an emergency, within a municipality. These systems would provide a local source of generation that enables communities to operate government buildings, police and fire operations, public housing, shelters and schools independently of the grid and in the event of an electric grid outage.

The website includes the results of a multiyear research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Source: NJITthrough the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, which addresses a range of critical challenges currently facing the successful procurement and financing of local government microgrids. A series of fact sheets and webinars detailing the critical issues and challenges identified throughout the research project are available, as are suggestions and resources to better understand the process of planning and financing local resilient microgrids.

“Microgrids.io is a valuable addition to the rapidly evolving microgrids knowledgebase,” said Deane Evans, executive director of the NJIT Center for Resilient Design. “With its specific focus on local government microgrids, an area of increasing interest to communities committed to sustainability and resilience, microgrids.io provides unique insights into the promise of — and current challenges facing — the development of this unique type of microgrid.”