The team at Shoals Marine Lab has been reducing their carbon emissions for decades through smart decisions and holistic integration of renewable energy. Today, the lab gives students the opportunity to see what sustainable energy looks like in practice, and it gives the rest of us a glimpse into how to make a low emission or no emission future possible.
Main Project Details
Unitil and Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) have enjoyed a unique relationship through the design and maintenance of the Lab’s microgrid on Appledore Island during the last 20 years. Isolated from the mainland, the grid on Appledore already utilizes many of the tools often discussed as part of a potential future of electric infrastructure, including the full integration of renewable fuel sources, active energy storage solution for off-hour use and the widespread adoption of energy efficiency measures. As Unitil continues to explore what the future of renewable energy looks like, the system at SML offers a tremendous learning opportunity—both for the engineering interns that reside on site in the summer and for Unitil engineers themselves. Likewise, the groundbreaking SML microgrid itself is a story worth sharing, as the real-world solutions found on the island to meet the SML’s needs may pave the way towards a smarter energy future for us all.
Beginning in the offseason, Unitil Engineers work with officials at Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) to review potential opportunities that would offer mutual learning opportunities for the upcoming summer. Unitil engineers serve as mentors to the SML Sustainable Engineering Interns made possible by Unitil’s support while a communications-specialized intern documents the work and creates program content for both Unitil and SML.
Wind Power
Our Communications Intern, Anna Kieffer from University of New Hampshire, spent three weeks exploring Shoals Marine Laboratory on Appledore Island, ME. Join Anna as she takes a behind-the-scenes look at their wind turbine project.
Sustainable Resources
Ready to continue your clean energy journey? Check out the blog posts below to discover sustainable best practices.
