Distributed Energy Resources, Microgrids, Solar  -  September 21, 2022

Daughters of Mary Campus Add Microgrid

Four critical community facilities at the Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception campus are being powered by a new microgrid.

The project transforms the 137-acre campus into a renewable energy hub, using green energy to power four standalone buildings and reduce energy costs for the organization. The $7 million project combines 1.4 MW of battery storage capacity with a total of 1.2 MW of solar generation to create a completely self-sufficient system. 

The technology utilizes funding provided by a grant from the State of Connecticut administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in the amount of $3.9 million, the largest-of-its-kind for microgrid development to be completed. The project is also the state's first microgrid capable of operating on 100% renewable energy around the clock in island mode.

This technology is essentially four individual microgrids that deploy engineering work to allow the individual systems to remain grid-tied, island independently, or share electrons and island together as one larger microgrid. The installation also includes a 250 kW natural gas generator for emergency use. This first-of-its-kind solution is also Citizens Energy's first project with its strategic alliance partner, Schneider Electric.

"We, the Daughters of Mary, are so proud and pleased to play a role in such an important and viable environmental issue," said Mother Mary Janice Zdunczyk in a statement. "We are grateful to Mother Mary Jennifer for her vision and foresight to pioneer into unchartered territory and achieve such innovative and financial success. We also wish to thank her 'silent partner,' Karen Kulak, for her due diligence in pursuing this unique battery concept and working alongside of Mother Jennifer, during and after, to see it to completion."