Schneider Electric has announced its founding membership of the International Microgrid Association (IMA), offering global expertise for the movement towards decentralised, reliable, digitised and low carbon electricity networks for businesses, facilities, precincts, and regional communities.
The IMA, headquartered in Perth Western Australia, says it has gathered the world’s leading players so the movement towards microgrids can be accelerated.
A microgrid is a form of distributed energy generation that can function independently from the traditional, centralised regional power grid. It can also be a standalone power option.
“Microgrids are providing the means for any energy intensive business, universities, small towns, and urban precincts, to set up their own energy sources and storage systems, distribute that energy locally and even sell excess power back to a utility,” said Simon Mouat, Vice President, Power Systems, Schneider Electric Pacific Zone, “As a Founding partner of the International Microgrid Association, we are able to drive the transformation conversation, ensuring that consumers, businesses and governments are best informed to take this next step in power automation.”
“Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria have invested in microgrid projects that we can all learn from, plus we can share what we have learnt from building them in USA, Europe and Scandinavia.”
Director of Utility Power Systems for Schneider Electric, James Colbert, said the Australian Energy Market Commission’s support of standalone power systems and the Federal government’s AUD50 million funding commitment to back microgrid projects in rural Australia in order to provide stable power for residents is a strong endorsement. “Australian electricity companies already operate in the most challenging of global markets due to the harsh environment, distances and opaque national policy settings.
“There is potential for rapid growth in the local market with both government and businesses looking to invest in alternative energy solutions. The IMA plays a key role in promoting the industry to stakeholders, regulators and end users,” he stated.
