At the end of February, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved a plan to bring the one of the nation’s first utility-scale microgrid clusters to the Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago. The plan from ComEd will enable a study of how microgrids can help support the collection and distribution of clean energy, both on a regular basis and during power outages.

What is a microgrid cluster?

 

The microgrid cluster will draw on distributed energy resources like solar power to provide energy to the surrounding community, according to a press release. The grid is also expected to increase security — since a microgrid can operate autonomously, it can use its own energy to power a community in times of crisis.

Anne Pramaggiore, president and CEO of ComEd, said in the release that the microgrid demonstration project “will provide critical learnings on how to protect against and recover from disruptive events, including extreme weather, as well as physical or cyber-attacks.” 

Powering Bronzeville

Photo by David Wilson / CC BY

ComEd researched extensively the best location for the microgrid so the company could determine the efficacy of the grid in action. In August 2017, ComEd petitioned the Illinois Commerce Commission for permission to recover costs for the estimated $25 million project through customer rates, according to Microgrid Knowledge.

“The microgrid project complements Bronzeville’s long history of innovation,” Alderman Pat Dowell said in the press release. “Our vision for our historic community is centered on sustainability and accelerating the adoption of smart technology and infrastructure. Grid security and support for renewable energy sources are essential to realizing this vision and that’s what the microgrid will bring. The Bronzeville community looks forward to continuing a robust civic engagement process as we build out the components of the microgrid.”

Putting Illinois on the Map

New Comed Training Facility / Courtesy of Shive Hattery

According to Joseph Svachula, ComEd’s vice president of smart grid and technology, the project is important for the community because it’s likely to be the most advanced clustered urban microgrid in the U.S. It puts Illinois in the same league as leaders in the microgrid space including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. 

The microgrid cluster is a major component of ComEd’s Community of the Future Initiative in Bronzeville. The company is investing in the community and is currently conducting an “Ideathon” that helps high school students in the community build skills in smart city and smart grid technologies, as well as other STEM knowledge.

The Future of the Microgrid Cluster

 

The demonstration microgrid will be located in an area bounded by 33rd Street, 38th Street, State Street, and South Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive. It will serve an area that encompasses 10 facilities which provide critical care to the community, including the De La Salle Institute, the Math & Science Academy, and the Chicago Public Safety Headquarters. Additionally, it will power a local library, health clinics, public transportation centers, educational facilities, and public works buildings.

The project has received $5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. The microgrid cluster is expected to be completed in 2019. Officials will study the performance, impact, and cost benefits for approximately 10 years.