The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has completed technology validation testing for Go Electric Inc. as part of the NREL-administered Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) program.
Go Electric developed an inverter called LYNC DR. Designed to provide an uninterruptible power supply that instantly synchronizes with the grid, the device underwent extensive scenario testing in the Energy System Integration Facility, at NREL.
Engineers evaluate a Go Electric inverter in the Energy Systems Integration Facility, at NREL. Go Electric received support from the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) program, which is co-administered by NREL. (Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL)
“The Go Electric team embodies the IN2 ideal—an innovative cleantech company needing a rocket boost on its way to market,” said IN2 Program Manager Trish Cozart. “The energy savings this technology provides further amplifies NREL’s mission and promises to provide commercial customers a triple bottom-line.”
Go Electric’s technology integrates patented microgrid power transfer technology with battery energy storage and open Automated Demand Response communication capability to provide continuous power and automatic demand response functionality to a commercial building or military base.
NREL validated four key capabilities of Go Electric’s LYNC DR energy resiliency solution: providing blip-less uninterruptible power; maintaining photovoltaics systems from tripping after a grid interruption event; compliance to IEEE1547 and Hawaiian Electric interconnection requirements; and demonstration of automated demand response dispatch. These capabilities ensure a facility has resilient power without any interruptions during a grid outage and from any energy resource, including renewables. LYNC DR also supports grid resiliency through demand response and other ancillary services.
“We are delighted with the results of the validation testing,” said Lisa Laughner, CEO of Go Electric. “The Wells Fargo IN2 program has been a critical part of Go Electric’s commercialization journey and we are pleased to demonstrate LYNC DR’s capabilities, especially the ability to integrate renewables into an energy resiliency solution and keep them operating during a grid outage.”
Go Electric and Wells Fargo are now exploring the option to run a beta demonstration of the LYNC DR system at a Wells Fargo facility.
“Go Electric’s LYNC DR demonstrated unique capabilities for energy resiliency,” said Ramsey Huntley, Environmental Affairs Program Officer at Wells Fargo. “These capabilities not only reduce the energy impact of facilities, they also provide resilient power to sustain our facilities and help them serve communities during a grid outage.”
Launched in 2014 with an initial $10 million commitment by the Wells Fargo Foundation, and expanded in 2017, Innovation Incubator (IN2) is now a $30 million program supporting innovative technologies and innovators.
NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.