MIT team’s “brain” for microgrids wins Clean Energy Prize
A team of MIT students and alumni won the MIT Clean Energy Prize (CEP) competition on Saturday for creating a “brain” for microgrids, which are smaller, localized versions of traditional power grids. The technology makes the systems more efficient and easier to own and operate. The team, Heila Technologies, beat out five other finalist teams at the ninth annual CEP, held in Kresge Auditorium, to take home the $100,000 Grand Prize, presented by National Grid. Heila has developed a universal control hub that automatically monitors and manages disparate microgrids — such as those that power solar panels, wind turbines, and gas generators — at places like company campuses, military bases, and rural villages, for optimal performance. By simplifying microgrids, Heila aims to boost their adoption worldwide, said team member John Donnal, a PhD student in electrical engineering and computer science. “A big problem we’ve seen in microgrids is, when you buy them,...