Ameren unveils one of North America's most advanced distributed energy resource facilities

Illinois microgrid a key element of company's commitment to innovation and clean energy

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May 18, 2017, 13:05 ET

CHAMPAIGN, Ill., May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its commitment to innovation and building a smarter, clean energy infrastructure, Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) announced completion of one of the most technologically advanced utility-scale microgrids in North America. The $5 million facility, located at Ameren's Technology Applications Center (TAC) adjacent to the University of Illinois campus in Champaign, Illinois, is one of the only utility-scale microgrids in the nation capable of serving live (paying) customer loads on an actual utility distribution feeder.

As larger companies and high energy users seek to become more energy independent, Ameren built the microgrid facility to test monitoring and control methods for aggregating clean, renewable energy sources – wind, solar, and natural gas – with advanced automation and battery storage. The Ameren microgrid is one of the few in the world that operate at utility-scale voltages, between 4-kilovolts and 34.5-kilovolts, with multiple levels of control. It is the only known microgrid in the nation capable of seamlessly transitioning the power source for an entire distribution circuit from exclusively distributed generation sources to the traditional grid. This concept, known as "islanding", enables Ameren to deliver more than 1-megawatt to live (paying) customers without experiencing an outage.

"Integrating microgrids onto our system can provide cleaner energy and a stronger, smarter grid capable of delivering the products and services to fit the needs of our future customers and the communities we serve," said Warner Baxter, chairman, president and CEO of Ameren Corporation. "There is no better time than now to innovate and position Ameren for even better results in the years ahead."

The Ameren microgrid can produce up to 1,475 kilowatts, enough to power more than 190 homes. The leased generation assets located on site include:

Northern Power Systems Wind Turbine – 100 kilowatts
Yingli Solar Array – 125 kilowatts
Caterpillar Natural Gas Generator – 1,000 kilowatts
S&C Electric Company Battery Storage – 250 kilowatts

"Our focus on building a next generation energy delivery system has enabled Illinois to emerge as a national leader in smart grid innovation," said Richard J. Mark, Chairman and President of Ameren Illinois. "As the technologies we are testing at this microgrid facility become more accessible in the future, our customers will be able to count on Ameren Illinois to help them safely install and cost-effectively operate distributed generation resources."

The microgrid is a key element of Ameren's investment in developing a smarter energy infrastructure. Along with the microgrid advancements, Ameren Illinois has added new equipment and technology to reduce outages and improve overall reliability. This summer, Ameren Illinois will begin installing 83,000 smart meters at customer locations in Champaign County. These advanced, two-way devices will provide Ameren Illinois customers with energy use data and easy access to programs to reduce energy and save money.

Construction on the Ameren microgrid was completed in December 2016, followed by testing in the first quarter of 2017.

To learn more about Ameren Illinois' electric and gas modernization projects, visit AmerenIllinois.com, Facebook.com/AmerenIllinois, and Twitter @AmerenIllinois.

About Ameren Corporation

St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric distribution and transmission service, as well as natural gas distribution service, while Ameren Missouri provides vertically integrated electric service, with generating capacity of over 10,200 megawatts, and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops regional electric transmission projects. Follow the company on Twitter @AmerenCorp. For more information, visit Ameren.com.

SOURCE Ameren Corporation