New and improved technologies combined with new government incentives and policies, such as NY Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), have combined to enable and encourage microgrids and on-site generation opportunities that were not feasible or cost-effective until recently. Global Common helps clients evaluate and implement new energy initiatives and technologies to take advantage of these opportunities by providing these key services:

Strategic Energy Partnerships

Global Common provides upfront, non-recourse financing that may be used to help fund Feasibility Studies and other technical evaluations needed to secure grants and other incentives available from utilities and government funding sources. In addition, Global Common arranges 100% of financing needed for project implementation. To align the party’s interests, Global Common and its clients establish an Energy Partnership to share in resulting energy savings. Global Common’s unique financing approach allows selected clients to evaluate and implement solutions to reduce energy costs without any capital outlay. Click here to request more information.

Energy Audits and Benchmarking

Global Common performs energy audits to identify Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Measures (EE/DRM’s) to both reduce energy use and peak demand. Besides reducing costs and helping clients reduce their “carbon footprints,” results are used to establish the design basis for feasibility studies and project design for microgrids and on-site generation.

Feasibility Studies and Strategic Planning

Feasibility Studies for microgrids and on-site generation are the key to determining the optimum mix of DER’s that will maximize cost savings and achieve other client objectives. Global Common has extensive experience with identifying innovative, project-specific solutions based on client objectives, load profiles, and regulatory and utility opportunities, while also addressing various obstacles and constraints. Global Common has performed Feasibility Studies for a variety of clients, ranging from municipal utilities to various C&I clients. In addition to EE/DRM’s, GC focuses on integrating DER’s that fit the customer’s load profile to help the client achieve its business objectives. Global Common works with highly experienced partners, including GE Energy Consulting and Smith Engineering, to develop technically and economically viable solutions that meet client needs.   Some solutions include:

  • Community microgrids including CHP, electric generation, solar PV, batteries, and thermal storage, to serve critical facilities as well as numerous smaller commercial/residential establishments.
  • Use of biogas from a wastewater treatment plant to supply energy for a CHP plant to power a community microgrid.
  • Use of LNG shipped by truck to supply a peaking power plant in an area that lacks adequate supply of pipeline gas. The plant would also supply a community microgrid during outages to the main grid.
  • Solar PV and thermal storage for a health care facility, where utility policies precluded use of CHP.
  • Anaerobic digestion/CHP at a large dairy farm to reduce energy costs and enable more efficient use of biosolids.
  • Use of waste heat from a peaking power plant to supply energy for an independently owned, steam generator that would dispatch to the grid; revenue from the steam generator enables the peaking plant to increase its capacity factor and operate as a base load facility, and provide additional cash flow to enable other improvements for the host facility. (Note: The host facility was not interested in investing to create its own combined-cycle plant.)

Commodity procurement

Global Common has established a Strategic Partnership with EnerNOC, which arranges commodity auctions to help clients reduce commodity costs, and commodity price risk.

Financial analysis and modeling

Global Common uses proprietary models to project cost savings and return on investment for various DER’s and EE/DRM options. The models calculate reductions in energy costs, as well as possible revenue from dispatch of energy, capacity and ancillary services to the grid.

Project development

Global Common has developed, owned and/or operated a range of energy projects, including a 54 MW peaking power plant, two 12.5 MW biomass power plants, an anaerobic digester/CHP facility, a 150,000 ton per year wood pellet plant, ethanol plants, and others. GC has performed conceptual project design, developed business and financing plans, negotiated power purchase and fuel supply agreements and Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) contracts, completed interconnection studies and agreements, secured complex environmental permits, and arranged project financing.