Article

As the United States grapples with the increasing demands of maintaining a reliable and affordable power supply, communities are confronted with a trifecta of challenges: aging infrastructure, extreme weather events, and the growing threat of cyberattacks. Jana Gerber, the North American president of microgrids at Schneider Electric, emphasizes the urgency of developing resilient energy systems, particularly as power outages impose an estimated annual cost of $150 billion on the U.S. economy.

In response to these pressing issues, a collaborative initiative aims to accelerate the deployment of local, future-ready energy solutions that help communities mitigate risks, control costs, and ensure the continuity of critical services. This initiative exemplifies how industry partnership and digital innovation can foster the large-scale implementation of resilient energy infrastructure.

Darryl Willis, corporate vice president of energy resources at Microsoft, highlights the synergy between Schneider Electric's expertise and Microsoft's advanced cloud and AI technologies. Together, they are working to bolster critical infrastructure, unlock new business opportunities, and promote a sustainable energy future.

Anticipating a pivotal moment by 2028, when the U.S. power grid may struggle to meet peak electricity demand, the initiative seeks to alleviate grid stress and curb rising energy costs through the expansion of distributed energy resources (DERs). These resources include solar panels, battery energy storage, geothermal heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging stations. By deploying these technologies, communities can bolster energy resilience while reducing reliance on centralized grids and mitigating the impact of climbing utility rates.

Project developers, including Alphastruxure, Azzo, Everged, Unison Energy, Verdant Microgrid, and Sunrock, have identified $7.5 billion in capital to finance energy resilience projects across various sites such as municipal facilities, airports, hospitals, schools, seaports, and water treatment plants. These initiatives can be executed as turnkey solutions through long-term service agreements, such as Energy as a Service (EaaS) contracts, which convert upfront capital expenditures into predictable, recurring payments. This model makes advanced energy systems more attainable for organizations seeking to upgrade through operational savings.

Resilience solutions may involve Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Microgrid Flex System and Energy Control Center, integrating solar battery storage, fuel cells, and flexible fuel generators. Through advanced digital controls and analytics, these assets can be optimized for cost-effectiveness, resilience, and sustainability. Microgrids, as localized energy systems capable of operating independently from the centralized grid, provide a reliable power source during outages or periods of grid stress.

As Schneider Electric's network of EcoXpert partners supports the national rollout of these initiatives, the mission remains clear: to be the trusted partner in advancing sustainability and efficiency, ensuring that communities are equipped to meet the energy challenges of the future.