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About
Introduction to GridTech Energy
GridTech Energy, LLC. is a renewable energy power plant concept for re-imaging shuttered industrial spaces, in particular power plants, to drive economic growth, community revitalization, and job creation through collaboration, innovation, and commercialization of distributed grid technologies.
Most of the combustion power plants that have closed recently in Illinois are now located in economically depressed areas with little to no industry. These sites are not only an eye-sore, but they are also non-revenue generating, non-property tax paying entities. This poses a huge problem to the surrounding communities since Illinois schools are funding through local property taxes.
GRIDTECH ENERGY not only attends to address this issue, but also support IDNR’s (4) main goals to:
- Reach Net Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050
- Help Illinois natural areas become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
- Ensure that IDNR’s climate actions benefit ALL Illinois residents and communities.
- Partner with and inspire others to take climate action
The Process
How We Make It Happen
By redeveloping a derelict industrial site, GridTech Energy will bring immediate and long-term benefits to the local community:
- Job Creation: The redevelopment process will create construction jobs, and once operational, the microgrid will provide ongoing employment in operations, maintenance, and renewable energy management.
- Local Business Growth: The site will attract businesses that support the local economy, contributing to indirect job creation in sectors such as retail, hospitality, and transportation.
- Reduced Emissions: The integration of renewable energy sources will significantly
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the region’s environmental
sustainability goals.
The selected site will be transformed into a microgrid—a self-contained energy system that generates, stores, and distributes power independently of the traditional grid. This redevelopment will be centered on the following features:
Renewable Energy Integration
The microgrid will harness solar energy, wind power, and battery storage systems to create a resilient and sustainable energy supply. These renewable sources will allow the site to operate independently, reducing its carbon footprint while ensuring a reliable energy supply.
Black Start Capabilities
The microgrid will be designed with Black Start capabilities. This service will be readily available to ComEd and/or other power generation facilities on the grid that may need power to jump start their plants.
Energy Storage and Arbitrage
Advanced battery storage systems will enable the site to store excess energy for later use or sell it back to the main grid during peak demand periods. This will not only provide additional revenue but also help stabilize the surrounding energy infrastructure through energy arbitrage.
Smart Grid Technology
The microgrid will be equipped with smart grid technologies that allow for real-time monitoring, energy optimization, and demand response. These technologies will maximize efficiency, lower operational costs, and reduce energy waste, while also enabling commercial tenants to better manage their energy consumption.
ROADMAP
The GridTech Energy Roadmap
Site Selection in Economically Depressed Areas
The first step in the GridTech Energy redevelopment plan is identifying an appropriate derelict industrial site. We will focus on areas with high unemployment rates and limited access to advanced energy infrastructure, specifically targeting brownfield sites or locations that have historically been underutilized due to industrial decline. By selecting these locations, GridTech Energy can contribute to the revitalization of economically depressed areas, transforming them into hubs of innovation and energy independence.
Reinvigorating Economically Depressed Areas through Microgrid Innovation
GridTech Energy is committed to transforming economically depressed regions by selecting and redeveloping derelict industrial sites into state-of-the-art microgrids with commercial applications. The core mission is to drive economic growth, create jobs, and establish sustainable energy solutions while providing clean, reliable power to underserved communities.
Energy Independence
Renewable Power Generation
Unlocking Business Potential with Renewable Innovation
Grid Level Battery Storage (Renewable Power)
100MWh of Energy Storage available to ComEd and the PJM Grid Capacitive Payments ComEd & PJM contracts
Solar Farm & Rooftop Wind Turbines
Renewable energy available to ComEd and PJM Grid as green energy Recharges Energy Storage System
First South Suburban Micro Grid
Opportunities
Creating Jobs and Building Future Leaders
- SCADA Design Architect
- BAS Design Architect
- SCADA Engineers
- Automation engineers
- Process control engineers
- Maintenance Technicians
- Instrument Supervisors
- Maintenance and
- Reliability Engineers
- OT Cybersecurity Engineers
- Penetration Tester
- OT Incident Response
- Cybersecurity Solutions Architect
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Data Engineer
- Power Plant Operators
- Instrumentation & Controls Technicians
- Energy Auditors
- NETA I & NETA II Certification
- UL SPIRE Auditors
- Solar Installers
- EV Installers
- General Construction
- ISA62443 Assessor
- NERC CIP Assessor
- NIST Assessor
- CMMC Assessor
Approach
Phased Rollout Approach
- Business Plan
- State of Illinois Buy In
- Local Municipality Buy In
- ComEd Buy In
- Community Outreach
- Funding
- Seed Money
Estimated Completion 2025
- Facility Procurement
- Environmental Cleanup
- Architectural Concept Drawings
- Construction Drawings
- Office Build Out
- Equipment Procurement
- Solar Plant
- Battery Storage
Estimated Completion 2026
- Grid Innovation Center
- Green hydrogen production technologies
Our Sources
Funding Sources
Commercial Energy Contracts
Industry Foundations
Credits for Training Costs (Illinois)
Private Investment
DCEO Federal Matching Grant
Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Tax Credit Act (Illinois)
Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) in Illinois Act
Savings from Income Tax Withholding (Illinois)
Partnerships
Potential Strategic Partnerships
- Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR)
- University of Illinois Campus
- Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- PJM
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
- Exelon | ComEd | Constellation
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Siemens
