MSL Teams for 3 Grid Modernization Projects

MSL organized and is part of three teams that have received awards from the Grid Modernization Grant Program of the New Mexico state Energy Office. The MSL projects reflect the three types supported by the program:

• Type 1: Research
• Type 2: Planning
• Type 3: Construction

The three projects are, respectively, Advanced Storage Architectures (research); the Picuris Pueblo Tribal Microgrid (planning); and the Resilient El Rito utility microgrid (construction), as follows:

Advanced Storage Architectures: This Type 1 Research grant is a collaboration with the University of New Mexico and Sandia National Laboratories. The ASA conceptual framework, developed by MSL, takes a holistic, systems innovation approach to optimizing the economic and operational deployment of energy storage throughout the grid, and has two main interlocking components: Storage Everywhere, and Storage First. Under the state Grid Modernization grant, the team will focus on developing modeling tools that employ the framework to design resilient architectures in NM under two scenarios: a blue sky scenario, in which heterogenous distributed storage fleets can be quickly configured to meet sudden load spikes and surges; and a black sky scenario in which dynamic microgrids can be formed on the fly to support critical loads in flexible geographic envelopes during utility outages, including Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

Picuris Pueblo Microgrid: This Type 2 Planning grant will enable the Pueblo of Picuris to integrate its previously deployed utility-scale PV array and Battery Energy Storage System into a functional community resilience microgrid. The Pueblo is located in a remote region and is vulnerable to outages due to wildfire and extreme weather events. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is the utility partner, and will utilize the microgrid under normal conditions to deliver grid services to its distribution network. Sandia National Laboratories and MSL will serve as advisors on the project, which will develop construction-ready planning, budgeting, and engineering documentation for the microgrid. This will be NM’s first Tribal community microgrid project.

Resilient El Rito: Finally, the Type 3 Construction grant will fund the addition of a Battery Energy Storage System and microgrid controls and switchgear to complete the El Rito community resilience microgrid, a project initially developed by MSL in collaboration with Northern New Mexico College and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. The BESS will supplement the 1.5 MW PV array previously installed in El Rito by Kit Carson and Guzman Energy, and the fully integrated microgrid will be constructed by PowerSecure, the leading utility microgrid developer in the U.S. Based on MSL’s original conceptual development, this will be NM’s first utility microgrid project and will integrate related workforce training with the NNMC Electrical Technology training program.

With these three projects, together with MSL’s Long Duration Energy Storage grant (also from the NM state Energy Office), MSL is now working with four teams on a broad range of state-funded projects well aligned with its mission.