Webinar: Microgrid Definitions, Concepts, Motivations, and Campus Case Studies
Microgrids are not new technology, but they are gaining popularity as an option that can provide energy resilience, cost savings, and emissions reductions. They are well suited for campuses, isolated communities, and even large groupings of energy loads that each vary in their criticality and demand requirements. In this short webinar, we will introduce the basic concept of microgrids, compare them to traditional power system infrastructure, and identify microgrid components. After time for questions and sharing attendee experiences with either designing or acquiring microgrids, we will then detail some motivations for building them, share some case studies from campuses using microgrids in research and curriculum, and identify the challenges to meeting increasing demand for microgrids. We will end by sharing resources that will be useful to anyone wishing to design, acquire, or operate a microgrid in the future.
Presenters
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Mindy Kimball, Assistant Director for Research, Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS), Arizona State University Dr. Mindy A. Kimball is a researcher and military veteran whose work with LEAPS is currently focused on resilient infrastructure systems and workforce development. Dr. Kimball retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel, most recently teaching as an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and specializing in Geology and Environmental Security. She earned her doctoral degree in Sustainability from ASU’s School of Sustainability in 2014, and her Masters in Geology in 2005 from California State University. At the Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) Dr. Kimball co-leads efforts on workforce development for the energy sector, with a primary focus on transferring capabilities for microgrid systems to enable energy transitions, energy access, and the resilience of energy infrastructure. |
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Bambi Ingram, Chief Sustainability Officer, University of Alabama at Birmingham Bambi Ingram is the Chief Sustainability Officer for the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Sustainability Program and Program Director for UAB’s Solar House and Microgrid Demonstration Community. Bambi is an International Society for Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) Certified Sustainability Professional and a LEED Green Associate. As Sustainability Officer for the University of Alabama at Birmingham—an urban campus of more than 200 classroom, office, research, and hospital buildings comprising one-hundred city blocks—Bambi works to advance campus and community projects and policies in renewable energy, waste diversion, transportation, and other sustainability challenges. Prior to her work at UAB, Bambi served as the Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations at Birmingham-Southern College and the Southern Environmental Center. Over the course of her career, she has procured and managed more than $20 million in federal, state, corporate and foundation funds in support of higher education, arts, and environmental and renewable energy programs. Bambi currently serves on the board of directors for Energy Alabama. Previously she served on boards for the Alabama Environmental Council, Birmingham Artwalk and the Homewood Arts Commission. Bambi holds a bachelor’s degree in art from California State University, Long Beach. |
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Alexander Mobley, Associate Director, Technology Evaluation and Workforce Development, Arizona State University, Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) Alexander Mobley is an engineer with over a decade of experience in energy, technical maintenance, tactical aircraft maintenance, and curriculum instruction and training for workforce development in STEM fields. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force, and holds a BS in Engineering a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction. At the Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions, within Arizona State University’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Alexander serves as the Testbed and Proving Ground Manager, as well as being a co-lead for projects in Workforce Development and Operational Maintenance and Testing of power solutions. |
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Marlon Acevedo Rios, Associate Engineer, Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS), Arizona State University Marlon is an experienced solar engineer with more than 9 years of experience in the leadership of solar projects, in the design and execution of Grid-Time and Off-Grid PV installations, in consulting, auditing, as well as training and coaching on solar energy technology. Strong technical knowledge related to electrical design, calculation, construction, supervision, inspection, O&M, and financing of solar projects. He is multilingual in Spanish, English, Portuguese, and Italian. |