Webinar: Microgrid Definitions, Concepts, and Motivations for Acquisition
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 asking 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, 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, Research, Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS), Arizona State University Mindy A. Kimball, PhD. is a researcher with the Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at The Polytechnic Campus in Mesa, AZ. Her work with LEAPS is 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. Her work on citizen science and environmental education earned the 2022 Apgar Award for Excellence in Teaching from the U.S. Military Academy. She earned her doctoral degree in Sustainability from ASU’s School of Sustainability in 2014, focusing her research on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of transportation infrastructure and land use planning institutions. She earned a Masters in Geology in 2005 from California State University, with her thesis focused on using geophysics to identify and characterize earthquake faults. Dr. Kimball has led numerous geology field studies for undergraduate students (Colorado, Hawaii, Iceland), and stays active in the Geoscience community. Her near-surface geophysics interests include using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to study buried archeological structures, mostly related to Revolutionary War era fortifications. She is a strong advocate for the prevention of sexual violence, having enabled the work of students and administrators at the U.S. Military Academy for eight years as the Dean’s Liaison to the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program. In this capacity she was recognized by the U.S. Army for prevention excellence in 2024. She is also an advocate for electric vehicles, having driven an EV as her primary form of transportation (both electric automobile and electric bicycle) since 2011. |
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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. |