Raytheon and NREL Validated Advanced Microgrid System for U.S. Marines

Raytheon and NREL collaborated to validate an advanced microgrid system that draws on batteries and solar energy for its power for installation at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar.

Photo of two men looking at microgrid technology in a laboratory

Photo by Dennis Schroeder

The results of the work being accomplished in the ESIF laboratory are truly amazing and representing MCAS Miramar, I can honestly say that it has accomplished a huge amount of risk mitigation for when [the microgrid] gets installed on base. As I said in the lab, seeing a completely renewable energy system, that scale and complexity, island and perform as envisioned, was the most fun I've ever had at work. It truly felt like history in the making."

- Mick Wasco, PE, CEM Installation Energy Manager Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar

Microgrids can work independently of the traditional grid, making them effective sources of backup power. Validation at the Energy Systems Integration Facility has shown that Raytheons microgrid system could produce the necessary power to support critical facility loads on its own if the grid was down. Using this pilot systems technology, the fielded microgrid at MCAS Miramar will be able to maintain power to base facilities under many adverse conditions—including loss of the local power grid.

2016 Project-of-the-Year Award

This partnership project received the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program's (ESTCP's) 2016 Project-of-the-Year Award.


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