UGE Harnesses Urban Wind Energy
NEW YORK — For enterprises that prefer to have full control of every aspect of their operational investments, onsite energy is a very appealing option.
New York-based Urban Green Energy (UGE), a leader in the distributed renewable energy (DRE) solutions market, has been rapidly expanding its business, offering wind- and solar-power resources to developers looking to tap directly into the energy-saving potential.
The company installs on-site energy systems that harness more cost savings while enhancing sustainability efforts. Wind turbines atop two New York high rises, for example, are able to break free of the city’s electricity grid, allowing building owners complete control over the energy that’s produced, as well as giving them a resilient back-up power source. The turbines are able to provide uninterrupted power even if the utility service goes out. While businesses can save money and store extra energy during normal operation, they also can remain operational during a blackout.
“We’re focusing on these small microgrids that, during normal utility operation, back-feed the grid and provide some cost saving for the customer. But then during these extreme events, they actually island themselves and provide power so that critical businesses can operate normally,” said Ryan Gilchrist, assistant director, business development at UGE.
After Hurricane Sandy, the NYC Economic Development Corporation became interested in discovering creative technologies that would help businesses in the event of a disaster. The resiliency of UGE’s wind turbines made them a finalist in the RISE: NYC competition, which will award $30 million to the most innovative idea in October.
The helical structure of UGE’s wind turbines gives them versatility in urban settings. Although they have the capacity to run off the grid, Gilchrist said about 95 percent of their installations are incorporated into the existing utility system. The building can be fed electricity through a utility provider and through the wind energy that’s coming from the rooftop turbine, which offsets electricity bills.
Gilchrist said installing onsite energy is a smart choice for businesses that are already in that frame of mind, and may have already retrofitted their HVAC system or installed energy-efficient windows. Buying an onsite turbine system or its energy output can help turn a super-efficient building into a net zero building.
But why not just buy renewable energy from an outside provider such as a wind farm or solar panel array? Gilchrist said there are a couple reasons that make on-site energy a better choice. First, UGE’s on-site energy systems are bought by clients at a definitive price that is agreed upon at the time of the sale. This is true whether it is structured as a purchase-and-own deal, or a power purchase agreement. This allows the purchaser to understand their risks and benefits over the 25-plus lifetime of the system, unlike off-site renewable energy purchases, which are subject to market fluctuation.
Second, on-site energy is owned by the off-taker, whereas renewables from off-site sources are controlled by a third party. This is important to corporations who tend to prefer control of every aspect of their operations.
“The benefit of buying on-site is you’re in complete control of the system. You’re actually offsetting your electricity bill right there versus potentially buying renewable energy credits,” said Gilchrist. “On-site energy gives them real control over exactly where their energy is coming from and that helps both from an energy security standpoint and tends to produce some high-cost savings, too.”