FM | Microgrids

Fairbanks Morse has been providing decentralized power for decades. Our platform-based microgrids easily integrate numerous energy technologies to deliver reliability and cost predictability.

Fairbanks Morse microgrids can flexibly incorporate numerous distributed energy resources (DERs) including solar, wind, CHP (combined heat and power), and battery storage, to deliver energy independence, power reliability, and cost predictability.

Due to their ability to provide resilient, flexible, and in some cases off-grid power to those in need, microgrids have grown in popularity over the past few years.

What are microgrids?

A microgrid is a local energy grid with control capacity. This means they have the ability to disconnect or “island” from the traditional power grid and continue to operate independently. According to the Microgrid Institute, the goal of utilizing microgrids is to enhance energy efficiency and to bring reliable and resilient power to those who need it most.

How do microgrids work?

Every entity within the specified boundaries that needs power is connected to the central power sources by the main grid. However, if one part of the grid is in need of repair, all connected buildings and houses are affected.

Grid-connected microgrids stay connected to the main power grid until there is an outage from a storm, brownout, downed power line, etc. Microgrids can then “island” and continue to generate power. This makes them very useful in times of crisis that cause loss of power. They combine a variety of distributed energy resources (DERs) to work together for a greater solution, according the U.S. Department of Energy. Microgrids also make for a flexible solution, as there are multiple resources integrated with one another.

What is the importance of microgrids?

Resilient power. Microgrids are designed to continue delivering power independent of the main power grid for self-generation or can be switched on only in times of need, like an emergency, natural disaster, or to avoid peak costs. For their use in North America and developed countries, microgrids provide the value of reliability. They are placed in areas in which power is critical and the microgrid is the last defense power offering. They are an ideal solution for many hospitals, manufacturing, industrials, universities, and municipalities. A great example of this would be recovering from superstorms here in the U.S. Nine of the 12 most expensive storms in U.S. history have occurred within the past three years. These superstorms paired with an aging grid cause power reliability issues across the United States.

Reliable power. Not only do microgrids bring security to developed countries, but they also make it possible to bring electricity to developing countries and other places with limited or lack of access of power.

Flexible, green power. Because microgrids encompass a variety of DERs, they are able to optimize the use of renewable energy sources.

High-quality power. Microgrids also provide high quality power to customers. They can disconnect from the main grid whenever its power quality threatens the operation of sensitive equipment, such as computers.

FM | Powered Microgrid in Puerto Rico

Power management controls are delivered through our PoweReliability-as-a-Service platform to enable remote operation of the microgrid, optimize usage of all resources, and keep the electricity flowing at facilities where reliable power is crucial. This past March, Fairbanks Morse delivered the PoweReliability-as-a-Service platform in the form of a microgrid to Puerto Rico to aid in the recovery from Hurricane Maria. This dual fuel combined heat and power (CHP) microgrid boasts approximately 10 megawatts of capacity and can be monitored in real time to deliver on specified fuel and reliability guarantees. To learn more about the storms that have devastated Puerto Rico and what Fairbanks Morse is doing to help, watch the video series.

To learn more about microgrids, download the white paper.

FM | Blog

In the midst of digital innovation, Fairbanks Morse was looking to better connect with stakeholders to provide them with valuable content. With the launch of this new blog series initiative, we are able to share industry-wide information, product-specific best practices, pieces of company history, and more. Engines, power systems, and parts are not the entirety of our value as a company; we are providing knowledge to better educate our customers so they can make the most of their Fairbanks Morse engine or power system.

We want to offer the content you are looking for. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in regards to this new initiative here. To read more blog posts by Fairbanks Morse, click here.

FM | About

For over 125 years, Fairbanks Morse has been powering the world forward with innovative distributed power generation solutions that deliver optimal performance in a wide range of applications from base load and standby in municipal, nuclear, and institutional facilities to locomotive engines, and naval and commercial-class ship propulsion and shipboard power. Reliable and dependable, their flagship Opposed Piston (OP) engine technology has been trusted for decades and has totaled over 100 million operating hours – many units with over 40 years of service. Learn more about how Fairbanks Morse is committed to delivering power where it is needed most in the world by visiting www.fairbanksmorse.com.

About EnPro Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NPO)

EnPro Industries, Inc. is a leader in sealing products, metal polymer and filament wound bearings, components and service for reciprocating compressors, diesel and dual-fuel engines
and other engineered products for use in critical applications by industries worldwide. For more
information about EnPro, visit www.enproindustries.com.