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When people think about reliable electricity, they often think about the power that is available every day when they flip a switch. But in northern Colorado, severe weather, wildfire risks, vehicle accidents, and other events can occasionally impact the larger electric grid. For communities like Livermore, maintaining access to critical services during those situations is especially important.
That is why Poudre Valley REA has installed the Livermore Microgrid, a local energy system designed to keep essential community facilities powered during major outages.
A microgrid is a group of interconnected electric loads and local energy resources that can operate together as a single system. When the larger electric grid experiences an outage, a microgrid can disconnect, or “island,” from the main system and continue providing power to connected facilities using local energy resources.
In simple terms, a microgrid creates a smaller, self-sustaining electric network that can continue operating when the surrounding grid cannot.
The project combines three energy resources that work together to support critical services:
Together, these resources aim to provide approximately 40 hours of resilience during a power outage.
The battery supplies immediate power when an outage occurs. During daylight hours, the solar array helps recharge the battery and offset energy consumption. The propane generator provides additional support when needed, allowing the system to continue operating for extended periods.
Rather than relying on a single energy source, the microgrid uses multiple resources that complement one another, creating a more resilient and dependable system for critical services.
The Livermore Microgrid was designed with one primary purpose: to support community resilience.
The Livermore Microgrid focuses on facilities that provide important services to the broader community.
Critical community services that are connected to this microgrid include:
These facilities support emergency response, access to water, communications, shelter, transportation, and other community needs.
During an extended outage, maintaining service to these facilities helps strengthen our community’s ability to respond, recover, and continue operating.
One of the most common questions about microgrids is why additional homes or businesses are not included.
The answer comes down to cost, geography, and impact.
Microgrids are complex infrastructure projects that require significant investments in equipment, controls, engineering, and construction. Because of that cost, projects must be designed to deliver the greatest benefit possible for an entire community.
In Livermore, priority was given to facilities that provide critical community services, emergency response capabilities, and essential resources. Some nearby residential services are connected because of their proximity to those facilities and the electrical infrastructure needed to serve the microgrid.
Microgrids work best when critical facilities are located relatively close together and can be connected efficiently. The farther apart those facilities are, the more infrastructure is required and the more expensive a project becomes.
As a member-owned cooperative, PVREA carefully evaluates how to invest member resources. Every project must provide meaningful benefit while maintaining the affordability and reliability members expect.
Fortunately, grant opportunities can help offset some of the costs associated with these projects. Grant support for the Livermore Microgrid project helped reduce costs while increasing the value delivered to our community.
The Livermore Microgrid represents more than a battery, solar panels, and generator. It represents an investment in preparedness and community resilience.
When severe weather or other emergencies affects the larger grid, critical local services can continue operating, helping provide stability and support when the community needs it most.
By combining innovative technology, strategic partnerships, and grand funding, the Livermore Microgrid helps strengthen our community’s ability to withstand and recover from disruptions.
Interested in reading more? You can learn about our first microgrid in Red Feather Lakes by clicking here.
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