Utility Microgrids Value Stack: 8 Revenue Streams Explained episode artwork

EPISODE · Dec 18, 2025 · 51 MIN

Utility Microgrids Value Stack: 8 Revenue Streams Explained

from Clean Power Hour · host Tim Montague, John Weaver

#EP324 Microgrids offer utilities eight distinct value stacks (or streams), yet most still treat them as experimental pilots. Today on the Clean Power Hour, we reveal how microgrids are strategic network assets that deliver value every single day, not just when the grid fails. Martin Szczepanik is Director of Energy and Resources at Baringa, a global energy consultancy. He brings 11 years of utility strategy experience, including work with SolarCity, major West Coast utilities, and renewable energy developers. Baringa recently released a white paper called "From Pilots to Portfolios: Scaling the Rollout of Utility Microgrids."Key Discussion Points:• The complete microgrid value stack: resilience, distribution capacity deferral, transmission capacity deferral, ancillary services, energy arbitrage, generation capacity deferral, avoided emissions, and avoided public safety power shutoffs (PSPS)• Why resilience differs from reliability: climate-driven extreme weather events versus age and condition-driven outages• How billion-dollar natural disasters increased from once every 90 days in the 1980s to once every 19 days today, which necessitates the increased need for microgrids• Distribution and transmission capacity deferral: using microgrids to avoid $5-10 million infrastructure upgrades• Energy arbitrage opportunities: charging batteries when solar floods the grid, discharging during peak demand• FERC 2222 enabling distributed energy resources to participate in wholesale markets and earn revenue• California wildfires and PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoffs) events: how microgrids reduce the cost of de-energizing lines• Why utilities need to assess microgrids in distribution planning instead of defaulting to substations and reconductoringConnect with Martin Szczepanik, Baringa LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/martinszczepanik/Website: www.baringa.com/en/about/regions/north-america/microgrids/Whitepaper: www.baringa.com/en/insights/digitising-the-energy-system/scaling-microgrids/ Support the showConnect with Tim  Clean Power Hour  Clean Power Hour on YouTubeTim on TwitterTim on LinkedIn Email [email protected] Review Clean Power Hour on Apple PodcastsThe Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email:  [email protected] sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems.  Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 18, 2025

Embed this episode

#EP324 Microgrids offer utilities eight distinct value stacks (or streams), yet most still treat them as experimental pilots. Today on the Clean Power Hour, we reveal how microgrids are strategic network assets that deliver value every single day, not just when the grid fails. Martin Szczepanik is Director of Energy and Resources at Baringa, a global energy consultancy. He brings 11 years of utility strategy experience, including work with SolarCity, major West Coast utilities, and rene...

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

Utility Microgrids Value Stack: 8 Revenue Streams Explained

0:00 51:28

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Clean Power Hour?

This episode is 51 minutes long.

When was this Clean Power Hour episode published?

This episode was published on December 18, 2025.

Is there a transcript available for this episode?

Yes, a full transcript is available for this episode. You can read the complete transcript on the episode page.

Can I download this Clean Power Hour episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!