Cuomo launches $40 million NY Prize microgrid competition

ALBANY, N.Y. — NY Prize, the state’s $40 million energy competition, is now accepting proposals for microgrids that meet the “energy and resiliency needs” of local communities.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the competition in a news release Wednesday.

Those submitting the winning designs will use the prize money to build microgrids across New York to “reduce customer costs and promote clean energy,” Cuomo’s office said in the release.

A reliable source of power is “crucial” when “extreme” weather strikes … and by launching this microgrid competition, we’re encouraging the development of more “resilient” energy networks across New York, Cuomo contended in the news release.

Microgrids are local-energy networks that can separate from the larger electric grid during “extreme” weather events or emergencies, and provide power to the grid when necessary. Building these systems in regions prone to storm outages “helps reactions to extreme weather by increasing power resiliency and reliability and improving energy efficiency,” according to Cuomo’s office.

Microgrid technology can combine solar, wind, hydro or combined heat and power systems for local power generation. It plays an “important role” in Cuomo’s “Reforming the Energy Vision” plan. Alongside the energy plan, microgrids can “expand customer choice, ensure reliability and preserve the environment,” Cuomo’s office contended.

Local governments, community organizations, nonprofit entities and for-profit companies are eligible to compete in the NY Prize competition.

Applicants must integrate potential projects into utility networks and serve multiple customers, including at least one “critical infrastructure” customer, such as a hospital, police station, fire station, or water-treatment facilities.

The competition has three levels of funding: basic engineering studies, advanced engineering designs, and support of the installation of a major on-site power system.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is currently seeking applications for the first phase, which will provide up to $100,000 to as many as 25 to 30 communities to study the feasibility of microgrids in their locations, Cuomo’s office said.

NYSERDA, with support from Cuomo’s office of storm recovery, will administer the competition.