Press Release: XENDEE, Converge Strategies, RMI, and Barrett Energy Launch Free Airport Microgrid Toolkit to Strengthen Operational Resilience and Reduce Carbon
May 20, 2021
SAN DIEGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — XENDEE Corporation, Converge Strategies, Barrett Energy Resources Group, and Principal Investigator RMI have launched a new Airport Microgrid Implementation Toolkit designed to expedite the transition of airports and aerospace facilities to secure on-site microgrids and distributed energy resources (DERs). The project, which was funded by the Airport Cooperative Research Program, seeks to provide airports with a standardized framework for increasing resilience and avoiding the disruptive impacts of electrical power loss.
Free Toolkit: The toolkit itself is available for free online and leads airport staff through eight guided modules that introduce Microgrid concepts and best practices. To access the new toolkit, airport personnel can navigate to the Airport Microgrid Implementation Toolkit website.
- This will grant access to download the toolkit as well as a user guide that walks personnel through all eight modules explaining definitions and Microgrid concepts as it progresses.
- This toolkit also systematically leads airport personnel through the information gathering process, which is meant to organically involve other departments at the airport and to make sure the future needs of the airport are considered and the right maintenance decisions are being made.
Report: A report on this toolkit, as well as its ability to address vulnerabilities in the existing electrical system, has also been published by the Transportation Research Board and is available here.
- As more facilities complete the Airport Microgrid Implementation Toolkit, the project team will be updating and adapting their framework based on feedback and real world results.
- This report includes current and future energy needs, equipment already onsite, and suggestions for how much capacity will be required to meet the facilities’ security and sustainability goals.
Funding: With this information, projects can easily be submitted to contractors for bids, or airports can engage with the project team directly and utilize their Microgrid design, optimization, training, and consulting services directly through the US Government’s GSA catalog.
Video: Take 40 seconds to learn how to access and engage with the report and toolkit.
About XENDEE: XENDEE develops world-class Microgrid decision support software that helps designers and investors optimize and certify the resilience and financial performance of projects with confidence. The XENDEE Microgrid platform enables a broad audience; from business decision makers to scientists, with the objective of supporting investments in Microgrids and maintaining electric power reliability when integrating sources of renewable generation. Jay Gadbois | press@xendee.com
About Converge Strategies, LLC: Converge Strategies, LLC is a consulting company focused on the intersection of clean energy, resilience, and national security. We build partnerships with the military, civilians, and all levels of government to accelerate resilience and security in the clean energy transformation. For more information, visit www.convergestrategies.com. Adair Douglas | adouglas@convergestrategies.com
“This toolkit offers airport staff an actionable framework for validating how a microgrid or distributed energy resources could strengthen an airport’s energy resilience posture”
— Meredith Pringle, Director, Converge Strategies“This toolkit was designed to help make the distributed energy transition process possible for airport facility owners and operators”
— Adib Naslé, CEO of XENDEE.
“When one of the world’s busiest airports came to a standstill in 2017 because of a power failure we saw how airport blackouts can cause cascading impacts not just regionally but across the country. This event underscored the importance of understanding the critical functions that would be impacted by electricity disruptions”— Meredith Pringle, Director, Converge Strategies in E&E News
“The toolkit was developed and enhanced by our workshops and research at the Ithaca-Tompkins and Massport’s Hanscom Airports. However, as more facilities move through the process and provide feedback we can add more data points and continue to refine the toolkit to address new technologies and emerging challenges”
— Dr. Michael Stadler, CTO of XENDEE.