A microgrid is a local energy grid with control capability, which means it can disconnect from the traditional grid and operate autonomously. With centralized local power generation, businesses and/or communities can have a say in how energy is generated and distributed. And they just may become the great equalizer between consumers and the electrical companies.

The Rise of the Microgrid

Microgrids are part of a growing trend toward “distributed energy,” power that’s produced independent of a traditional utility. Distributed energy is used by its producer, but is sometimes also sold to a utility and put back onto the general grid. In other words, electricity flows two ways, not one. Microgrids are well-suited to university campuses, corporate research parks, military bases and other insular environments that want to run on their own energy from start to finish. But more than that, microgrids are making their way to neighborhoods, office buildings, and beyond.

The increasing adoption of renewable power sources have made distributed power much more practical. It’s hard to imagine generating energy for standalone neighborhoods or communities using natural gas or coal. Fossil fuel-based electricity requires complex plants and refineries that cost billions of dollars and serve millions of buildings. Rooftop solar panels and clusters of wind turbines on the other hand can successfully generate enough energy to keep the lights on in just a handful, a few hundred or a few thousand homes. Renewables may not be able to meet the needs of entire cities today. But they can reliably serve people who live off the grid, or who want to declare independence from major utilities.

According to a research report from Markets and Markets ("Microgrid Market by Grid Type Global Forecast to 2022"), the microgrid market is estimated to reach USD 34.94 Billion by 2022, representing a CAGR of 10.9% between 2016 and 2022. Drivers include falling renewable prices, especially solar PV cells, low gas emissions, as well as a growing number of rural electrification projects in Africa and APAC.

This morning, Ottawa-based cleantech company, Thermal Energy International (TSX-V: TMG) reported its fiscal 2016 year end financial results. Highlights included:

• Revenue increased 82.4% to $12.4 million, with higher heat recovery systems and GEMTM Condensate return systems sales;
• Gross profit increased 87.3% to $6.8 million;
• Net income of $259 thousand, representing an improvement of $2.4 million;
• Positive adjusted operating cash flow of $710 thousand, representing an improvement of $2.1 million.

Canadian cleantech company, Thermal Energy International (TSXV: TMG), announced a $500,000 hospital order this morning for its GEM venturi steam traps. Converting over to GEM steam traps is expected to provide the hospital with fuel and maintenance savings of approximately $282,000, resulting in a project payback of under two years. The GEM traps are also expected to reduce the hospital’s carbon emissions by 1,085 tonnes per year.
>> News Release <<

The increased energy efficiency and reliability of GEM steam traps mean short paybacks and permanent energy savings with no deterioration of those savings over time.  The life cycle cost of the GEM steam trap is significantly lower than for conventional steam traps. 
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Unlike the traditional mechanical steam traps that will be replaced at the hospital, Thermal Energy’s venturi orifice designed GEM steam traps have no moving parts to wear or fail and come with a ten-year guarantee. Several case studies demonstrating the proven benefits Thermal Energy’s products have provided to hospitals can be found on the Company’s website at www.thermalenergy.com/hospitals.