1Q 2024

Investigating US State Level Macroeconomic Trends That Influence Microgrid Adoption

Microgrids are complex energy projects that link, integrate, and optimize a variety of distributed energy resources (DER) to achieve certain goals. As retail electricity rates continue to rise, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events causing grid outages increases, and decarbonization goals become more aggressive, customers in all segments are investigating microgrids. These projects may be deployed to serve a variety of use cases including cost savings, increased energy resilience, and enhanced sustainability. Microgrids can generate significant value for both the end consumers directly benefitting from the system and the larger utility grid with which it is interconnected.

Guidehouse Insights has developed a customizable connected DER analysis tool that can give those stakeholders who may be interested in entering the microgrid market, but lack familiarity with it, a high level introduction to macroeconomic trends having an impact on the market. Inputs can be adjusted to reflect different business strategies and anticipated revenue streams of microgrid systems, and the output is a ranking of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia according to how favorable each one is for microgrid investment and development. The inputs were selected to cover a range of factors that influence customer adoption strategies for microgrids.

This Guidehouse Insights report outlines the US state level connected DER analysis tool developed by Guidehouse Insights to examine the regional differences in microgrid adoption. It details the methodology and input criteria for the tool and then provides example inputs and outputs for three different types of microgrid systems. Commentary on the output is provided as are recommendations for new stakeholders looking to enter the microgrid market.

Pages 14
Tables | Charts | Figures 10
  • What are the primary use cases for microgrids?
  • Which factors influence microgrid adoption?
  • How does geographic location impact microgrid adoption in the US?
  • Which types of customers might adopt microgrids?
  • Under different business strategies, which US states could be more favorable for microgrid investment and development?
  • Potential microgrid investors
  • Residential and commercial building developers
  • Commercial and industrial energy users
  • DER hardware providers
  • Microgrid controller providers
  • Distribution utilities

Spark

Context

Recommendations

Customer Demand for Microgrids Is Strong and Increasing

Customer Microgrid Adoption Varies by State and Use Case

Guidehouse Insights State Level Connected DER Analysis Tool

Example Outputs for Different Types of Microgrid Developers

Example 1: Cost Savings for Commercial Customers

Example 2: Sustainability for Residential Communities

Example 3: Resilience for Commercial & Industrial Customers

State Level Resilience and Reliability Needs

Understanding Macroeconomic Trends Is Helpful for Microgrid Development

  • Microgrid Developer Revenue: Cost Savings
  • Microgrid Developer Revenue: Cost Savings with Customer Resilience Premium
  • Input Methodology
  • Example 1 Inputs
  • Example 1 Outputs
  • Example 2 Inputs
  • Example 2 Outputs
  • Example 3 Inputs
  • Example 3 Outputs
  • Reliability Performance Rankings Relative to Resilience Need
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