by Shane Henson — June 10, 2013—ETAP, a provider of software solutions for the design, optimization, and online operation of mission-critical electrical power infrastructure, recently announced that the company is following its own advice and setting an example for its customers by building a microgrid for its corporate campus in Irvine, California. According to the company, it is the only known electrical power systems software developer to undertake the ambitious endeavor of designing, building, financing, and managing its own corporate campus microgrid.
The company’s management notes that given its success in providing power system software technologies for Smart Grids and microgrids for its customers, it has seen first-hand the benefits they can provide for all sorts of organizations, including their own.
“We’re making a conscious decision, and a sizable investment of resources, to broaden our knowledge of best practices in the alternative energy arena. In making this investment, we are showing with our actions—not just words—that we are committed to deepening our understanding of the issues our customers face when they commit to a Smart Grid or microgrid strategy for their organization,” said Farrokh Shokooh, founder, president and CEO of ETAP.
The completed microgrid is expected to generate 180 kilowatts of electricity and to save the company an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 per year in annual energy costs, while providing 12 car-charging stations for ETAP employees who drive electric vehicles. The microgrid is scheduled to be deployed before the end of July, when ETAP hosts its annual Global Partner Symposium for its technology and business development allies.
Once operational, the microgrid will be controlled by the company’s ETAP Real-Time software platform, which enables online monitoring, simulation and demand-side management of Smart Grids and microgrids. It will also monitor the building’s power consumption throughout the day, providing insights into ETAP’s energy usage patterns to help the company lower energy costs, says ETAP.
