Black & Veatch-designed microgrid to power innovation at Shell Technology Center in Houston

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., July 13, 2017 -- Black & Veatch, a leader in the design and deployment of clean energy-producing microgrids, has been selected by Shell International Exploration & Production Company, Inc. to perform engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) on a new microgrid system at Shell’s Technology Center in Houston.

The microgrid will incorporate solar photovoltaic and a natural gas fueled reciprocating engine as well as advanced battery storage technology and other elements to create a sustainable, resilient, and flexible microgrid system. The microgrid is designed to accommodate future additional resources, and includes Black & Veatch’s ASSET360® data analytics platform. The ASSET360® platform will provide actionable insights about the microgrid’s performance and allow Shell operators to optimize operation based on energy demand, solar production and other conditions.

The microgrid will be a platform for collaborative research undertaken by Shell and Black & Veatch to develop and deploy the next generation of clean and resilient energy technologies. The project will be used to test a spectrum of microgrid use cases with the objective of understanding technical solutions to difficult distributed energy use cases and to develop better distributed energy solutions for future application. 

Microgrids are integrated systems of multiple power generation sources and electric loads. When operated under a consolidated control with a sustainable energy management system, microgrids can produce and distribute electricity and operate independently from the larger power grid or provide reliable service to remote areas.

“The Shell microgrid will provide an excellent platform for demonstrating and developing resilient and sustainable power generation systems,” said Dustin Rogge, Black & Veatch’s Project Manager. “We are excited about the opportunity to build a great microgrid while collaborating on innovative research that will build the foundation for better distributed energy solutions. This microgrid will feature Black & Veatch’s data analytics and visualization platform, ASSET360®. The ASSET360® Microgrid, Issues Management and Performance Monitoring Applications will provide Shell with industry leading performance monitoring, warranty issue support, distributed energy resource management, and research data visualization.”

The Shell Technology Center Houston (STCH) brings together about 2,000 Shell scientists, technologists and engineers to solve current and future energy challenges. The facility’s recently modernized design focuses on energy efficiency and sustainability through Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Improvements to the facility have generated significant emissions reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

“The STCH Microgrid will enable us to do hands-on research and develop solutions to complex renewable energy system integration challenges,” said Ajay Mehta, General Manager, Long Range Research & New Energy Technologies, Shell International Exploration and Production Inc.  “These solutions will enable Shell to leverage the value of renewable energy, accelerate its integration into existing Shell operations (and beyond), and further drive the adoption of more and cleaner energy solutions for the future.”

Editor’s Notes:

• To demonstrate system performance and sustainability benefits, Black & Veatch designed and built its own microgrid, which powers a substantial portion of the company’s world headquarters near Kansas City.
• Black & Veatch recently announced a partnership with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to design and assess the financial and energy efficiency impacts of a microgrid in Buffalo, N.Y. The microgrid will provide resilient, clean energy for the 120-acre campus, long-term cost-savings and potential monetization opportunities for member institutions.
• Black & Veatch has been a leader in resilient and reliable electrical systems for decades.  Our Distributed Generation business line is built on this heritage of expertise.

About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2016 were US$3.2 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and social media.

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