Microgrid System Design Joint Base San Antonio

Resiliency is a driving force behind microgrid development, such as the one being built at the largest base in the U.S. Department of Defense, Joint Base San Antonio. The base engaged the team of Ameresco and Stanley Consultants to assess whether it was feasible to install a microgrid power generation and distribution system with distributed energy resources that includes solar photovoltaic panels, lithium-ion battery energy storage and natural gas fired generation. The team performed a series of studies that culminated in a concept design as part of the investment grade audit report. Stanley Consultants also performed the microgrid design. At Joint Base Lackland, the microgrid will monitor commercial power quality, coordinate on-base distributed generation and energy storage, perform fast load shedding and islanding capability for critical facilities in the event of commercial power loss. The generation assets can provide half of the power needs at Joint Base Lackland for a limited time and critical load needs can be provided indefinitely, ideally long enough to restart commercially provided power.