{"id":1851,"date":"2016-05-01T16:45:46","date_gmt":"2016-05-01T16:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/minutes.machine.market\/?p=1851"},"modified":"2016-05-01T16:45:46","modified_gmt":"2016-05-01T16:45:46","slug":"caterpillar-turns-on-their-hybrid-solar-diesel-microgrid-in-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/machine.market\/blog\/caterpillar-turns-on-their-hybrid-solar-diesel-microgrid-in-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Caterpillar’s Arizona proving grounds now running on a hybrid solar-diesel ‘microgrid’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Caterpillar Inc<\/a>. has run its Tucson proving ground near Green Valley since 1990, putting mining trucks and other massive machines through their paces in the shadow of Freeport-McMoRan\u2019s Sierrita mine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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All the while the relatively remote, off-grid facility has been powered solely by Cat\u2019s own diesel generators \u2014 but now the sun will do part of the work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The construction machinery giant last week launched a new product line with the christening of a hybrid solar-generator \u201cmicrogrid\u201d system at the proving ground.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The proving ground\u2019s system \u2014 consisting of 500 kilowatts\u2019 worth of photovoltaic arrays and an equal amount of battery storage linked to the facility\u2019s generator system \u2014 will cut the proving ground\u2019s reliance on diesel generation by about one-third, the company said.<\/p>\n

\"Rick

Rick Rathe, manager new ventures, at the Caterpillar Proving Grounds<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It will also serve as a demonstrator for the company\u2019s new line of Cat Microgrid products, which range from mobile trailer-mounted rigs to scalable custom, on-site installations, said Rick Rathe<\/strong>, managing director of microgram and energy storage for Caterpillar\u2019s electric-power division.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re taking that same value proposition out to our customers right now,\u201d said Rathe, who announced the company\u2019s new Cat Microgrid branded product offering as the company flipped the switch on the proving ground\u2019s microgrid on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0Long a leader in large diesel generators, Cat has been looking at integrating renewable energy with combustion generation for some time as prices for photovoltaic panels tumbled and battery technology improved, Rathe said.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cToday, solar energy is a very cost-efficient form of energy \u2014 more efficient than running diesel generators all the time,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Cat Microgrid<\/a> systems combine solar panels, state-of-the-art energy storage and advanced monitoring and control systems with Caterpillar\u2019s traditional line of power generation equipment, including Cat generator sets, switchgear, uninterruptible power supplies and automatic transfer switches.<\/p>\n

\"cat-micro-grid-2\"

Caterpillar unveiled the solar arrays it’s using, as well as this mobile system, at its Green Valley proving ground.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Caterpillar says the systems are ideal for off-grid applications such as telecommunications towers, industrial facilities, mining installations, remote villages and islands and rural communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The company also has partnered with two Arizona companies to create its Cat-branded hybrid micro product. Tempe-based First Solar is supplying the thin-film photovoltaic panels.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Caterpillar also invested in Scottsdale-based Fluidic Energy for advanced metal-air energy storage technology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Contact Assistant Business Editor David Wichner at dwichner@tucson.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Caterpillar Inc. has run its Tucson proving ground near Green Valley since 1990, putting mining trucks and other massive machines through their paces in the shadow of Freeport-McMoRan\u2019s Sierrita mine. 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