Building a Containerized Microgrid for a Remote Off-Grid Community
This 40-foot high-cube shipping container is being transformed into a complete containerized microgrid designed to help power an entire northern community.
The finished system combines solar power, battery storage, diesel generators, climate control and multiple layers of redundancy inside one highly modified container. The unit is designed to support approximately 228 kW of solar generation and 488 kWh of battery storage while remaining serviceable in an extremely remote environment.
Supporting the Weight With an Oilfield Skid
With generators, batteries, inverters and other heavy electrical equipment inside, this container needs a strong foundation.
A heavy-duty oilfield skid was installed underneath the container to distribute the weight and prevent the structure from settling into sandy ground.
The skid also uses rectangular structural tubing as cross-members, allowing the finished unit to be moved with a sufficiently large forklift.
Adding Generator Access and Spill Containment
Two diesel generators are installed inside the mechanical section of the container.
Standard-height shipping container cargo doors were reused and installed along the sidewall to provide access to the generators.
Hazardous material containment pans were installed underneath the equipment to capture oil, antifreeze, or other fluids in the event of a leak.
The generators also require significant ventilation, so louvered openings and additional intake airflow were incorporated into the mechanical room.
Utility Pass-Through Frames
Nominally vertical utility pass-through frames were used throughout the build.
These recessed frames create organized locations for generator exhaust, fuel lines, high-voltage wiring, low-voltage cabling, refrigerant lines, and other utilities to enter or exit the container.
The same system can be adapted for HVAC, plumbing, and electrical applications while maintaining a clean finished opening through the corrugated container wall.
Solar Panel Mounting With MSS Brackets
Container Modification World MSS Exterior Brackets were used to mount strut channel along the exterior walls and roof.
Solar panels can then be attached directly to the strut framing.
In this application, the backup solar panels are mounted vertically because the container will be located extremely far north.
These panels are not the primary solar array for the community. Instead, they support the UPS and communication systems so the microgrid can remain accessible even if the main system experiences a failure.
Climate Control and Ventilation
The main electrical compartment contains sensitive batteries and inverters, so it is insulated with approximately five inches of spray foam to create an R30 envelope.
Two Container Modification World T16 16-Inch Exhaust Fans provide summer ventilation. Temperature and humidity controls allow the fans to operate automatically when needed.
Low intake vents pull cooler air through the floor and exhaust the heat higher up.
During the winter, the ventilation openings can be sealed to prevent extreme cold air from entering the container.
Two three-ton mini-split heat pumps provide additional heating and cooling, with a second system included for redundancy.
Man Door and Security Upgrades
A Container Modification World 36-Inch Dual Swinger Man Door provides everyday access.
Finite element analysis showed that the latest frame design can actually strengthen the container opening when installed correctly.
The door also uses an automotive-style bulb seal that can flex as the container twists during transportation.
A Universal Lock Box provides additional security and can be configured for either left-hand or right-hand door swings.
Container Modification World Lock Boxes were also installed on the original cargo doors, allowing multiple locks to be keyed alike.
A Highly Redundant Containerized Power System
This microgrid was designed so that a single component failure does not shut down the entire system.
It includes two generators, two mini-splits, multiple exhaust fans, redundant internet connections, and backup solar power.
Container Modification World products used throughout the build include MSS Exterior Brackets, T16 Exhaust Fans, the Dual Swinger Man Door, Universal Lock Box, and Container Lock Boxes.
The result is a highly engineered containerized power station built to operate reliably in one of the most demanding environments possible.