Schneider Electric Solar Business has officially opened their new MicroGrid Lab in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Claimed to be the largest in the world, the new MicroGrid Lab was built at a cost of US$13 million to support the design and testing of Schneider Electric's SE1 1500V platform. The lab allows Schneider Electric to test their solar products to all international safety and grid interconnection standards under a wide range of environmental conditions. Due to the very specific nature of the lab, much of the equipment had to be custom designed such as the ac simulators that were required for the testing facility simply did not previously exist as standard equipment.
The MicroGrid Lab also has its own 5MW substation and four ac sources, one of which is the grid itself. The MicroGrid Lab occupies 15,000 square-feet of Schneider Electric’s Burnaby office; it contains 70,000 pounds of wiring, 300,000 pounds of test equipment and an 1800-point control structure.
“We are thrilled British Columbia’s Premier Christy Clark was able to join us to officially open our new MicroGrid Lab†said Jill Tipping, VP Operations & CFO, Solar Business, Schneider Electric “Our new MicroGrid Lab is one of the largest of its kind in North America and is enabling Schneider Electric to realize its potential as a global leader in Solar.â€
“Schneider Electric’s investments in British Columbia are a vote of confidence in our economy and our future as a clean energy provider and technology leader. Their new MicroGrid Lab will help provide greener, more affordable energy here at home and around the world†said Premier Christy Clark.
