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MCDM AG.COM | SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2017 | Medical Construction & Design 39 Energ y Vision, New York State's comprehensive energ y strateg y and NYC One City: Built to Last, the city's commitment to signifi cant emissions reductions. Determining the feasibil- ity of a microgrid, such as the EBHM, requires an accurate engineering and economic analysis. Realizing the sys- tem's potential effi ciency requires the ability to opti- mize its operation — through accurate, detailed continu- ous monitoring of real-time operating data, engineering analysis and advice. Determining feasibility The feasibility study typi- cally is performed by a team comprising the owner's or par- ticipants' energy procurement, and sustainability services advisors and engineering con- sultants, to defi ne normal and emergency loads and identify distributed energy resources and demand response needs, as well as conducting site vis- its at the healthcare campus or campuses that will be served by the microgrid. The outcomes dictate the design options that will be considered. Options include sizing, quantity and location of the distributed energ y resources, identifi cation of electrical confi guration, performance of voltage studies, evaluation of the impact of any renewable generation, a system protection strateg y and specifi cation of controls. The team prepares cost estimates, system drawings and specifi cations for all components. The team also provides an assessment of potential fi nancing options available to the participants, which may include development of the microgrid by a third-party owner- operator, which will provide service under a contract with the participants. The presence of an energ y procurement/ commodities expert on the team is essential. The project economics depend greatly on the present cost of energ y, as well as the predicted future cost of energ y. An energ y procurement consultant will develop a forward rate forecast and align it with regulatory changes that may impact future costs. Energ y cost escalations do not traditionally follow infl ation or other cost indexes due to the complexity of the markets. A rate forecast that is too optimistic may recommend a project with a payback that simply will not materialize. The EBHM Stage 1 feasibility team consists of Gotham360, an energ y procurement and sustainability services advisor, van Zelm Engineers and Environmental Engineering Solutions. The New York State Energ y Research and Development Authority awarded EBHM a Stage 1 NY Prize, which funds an engineering assessment to evaluate the feasibility of a community microgrid at a proposed site. Hiring a third-party owner-operator Hiring a third-party operator ensures that the project will be run to peak effi ciency (and savings). The choice of the right third-party operator is an important one, particularly in healthcare where the popula- tion is extremely sensitive and the delivery of reliable power is critical to the core business. Every hospital considering a third-party owned/man- aged microgrid system should carefully examine potential partners for fi nancial stability, healthcare experience and cli- ent retention rates. The EBHM facility is in design development. The site $34M Cost of microgrid to serve the four hospitals in the East Bronx — olis.leg.state.or.us Albert Einstein College of Medicine. 30 Number of buildings across four campuses that microgrid would serve — olis.leg.state.or.us