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July 21, 2026 | From iRet

ICP stated that, based on the core concept of an energy cluster, it will integrate NCU’s existing campus microgrid with newly developed energy facilities to establish an energy management framework capable of aggregating multiple microgrids. The framework will also reserve capacity for future cross-campus energy applications and the development of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). By combining solar photovoltaic systems, energy storage, and an energy management system (EMS), ICP will help NCU create a new hub for a campus-wide energy cluster.

Pictured is a section of the planned site for NCU’s covered sports facility. Photo courtesy of ICP.

Campus Energy Transition: Advancing Talent Development Through Renewable Energy Technology Validation

Amid growing global momentum toward net-zero transformation and increasing demand for energy resilience, university campuses are evolving from energy consumers into vital hubs for energy innovation, technology validation, and talent development. Today (15th), ICP officially announced that it has been awarded the turnkey contract for the construction of NCU’s microgrid and solar-powered covered sports facility. The project also reserves capacity for future cross-campus energy integration and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) applications at NCU, laying a strong foundation for the transition from a microgrid demonstration site to the next stage of a campus-wide energy cluster.

According to ICP, the project will include the deployment of a 1 MW / 3.3 MWh energy storage system, a 252 kWp solar photovoltaic covered sports facility, and a 500 kW backup generator. It will also integrate NCU’s existing microgrid, hydrogen energy systems, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, bringing together diverse energy resources to help NCU become a new hub for a campus energy cluster with multi-microgrid aggregation capabilities.

NCU’s Eight-Year Track Record Builds a Strong Foundation for Energy Innovation

Since 2018, NCU has continuously invested in microgrid research and demonstration projects, gradually building a campus energy testbed that integrates solar photovoltaic systems, energy storage, fuel cells, and an energy management platform. Through these efforts, the university has accumulated extensive research achievements and valuable operational experience. The current turnkey project for the microgrid and solar-powered covered sports facility is not merely an expansion of energy infrastructure. Rather, it seeks to build upon years of demonstration and validation by connecting existing energy assets with new facilities, advancing NCU’s campus energy system to the next level of development.

According to ICP, beyond the deployment of energy infrastructure, NCU views the microgrid as a vital platform for research, education, and real-world operations. By integrating research outcomes into academic curricula and campus applications, students gain opportunities to participate directly in energy management, microgrid control, and smart grid applications. This approach establishes a comprehensive cycle that links research, learning, and practical validation, strengthening the university’s capacity to cultivate smart energy talent while realizing a campus energy development model that unifies research, education, and operational practice.

Harnessing Diverse Energy Resources to Enhance Campus Energy Resilience

According to ICP, compared with building a microgrid system from the ground up, the challenges of NCU’s project are significantly greater. The project must not only ensure the continued operation of existing research activities, but also incorporate scalable planning to accommodate future development needs. At the same time, it must effectively integrate the various energy systems that NCU has established over different periods and for different purposes.

In addition to integrating NCU’s existing microgrid, solar photovoltaic, and energy storage systems, the project will also combine the university’s existing 15 kW hydrogen fuel cell system with a newly installed 5 kW AEM hydrogen production system. Together, these components will form a complete hydrogen energy cycle encompassing hydrogen production, storage, and power generation. This will make NCU one of the few universities in Taiwan to incorporate hydrogen energy directly into microgrid operations and dispatch, further enhancing energy management flexibility and campus energy resilience.

The project will also deploy a new 1 MW / 3.3 MWh energy storage system and a 500 kW backup generator, integrated with ICP’s proprietary Microgrid Management System. Equipped with grid-forming capabilities, the system can support both black start and islanded operation. In the event of an external grid disturbance, the system can independently establish and maintain microgrid voltage and frequency, ensuring uninterrupted power supply for at least four hours to critical loads such as the university’s electromechanical laboratories, which require approximately 250 kW of power. Following load-shedding measures, the system’s emergency operation mode can be extended to as long as 72 hours for disaster response and resilience purposes.

In addition, the covered sports facility has been planned as an emergency shelter, enabling the campus to serve a dual role as both an energy research and demonstration platform and a community disaster preparedness hub.

From Microgrids to Energy Clusters：Expanding Energy Applications

Unlike most campus microgrids, which remain focused on isolated power supply within a single site and basic Energy Management System (EMS) monitoring, NCU’s latest initiative takes a significant step forward toward the development of an “energy cluster.” Guided by the energy cluster concept, the project will connect the university’s existing microgrids with newly deployed energy facilities, establishing an energy management architecture capable of aggregating multiple microgrids while also reserving capacity for future cross-campus energy applications and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) development.

To support NCU’s vision for a campus energy cluster, ICP stated that it will implement a three-tier Modular Resource Microgrid (MRM) architecture. This framework will encompass single-microgrid control, multi-microgrid aggregation, and cross-campus VPP aggregation interfaces. The system is designed to support seven VPP application scenarios, including spinning reserve, supplemental reserve, demand response, and time-of-use electricity price arbitrage. It can also directly interface with Taipower’s DREAMS platform, enabling campus research outcomes to be validated and implemented in real-world electricity markets.

Integrating Smart Energy Solutions to Expand the Value of Energy Services

According to ICP, as the prime contractor for this turnkey project, the company will be fully responsible for system planning, engineering construction, deployment of the energy management platform, and a five-year comprehensive warranty program. Building on its IEC 62443-2-4 industrial cybersecurity certification and ISO 27001 information security management system, ICP will implement a multi-layered cybersecurity framework to ensure the safety and reliability of the campus microgrid in a highly interconnected operating environment. The project not only demonstrates ICP’s end-to-end capabilities spanning design, implementation, and delivery, but also validates the company’s comprehensive expertise across information and communication technologies (ICT), industrial control systems, and smart energy solutions.

ICP further noted that as the energy industry increasingly shifts toward energy management and service-oriented business models, capabilities in energy management platforms, intelligent dispatch, and cross-system integration will become key competitive advantages. In addition to advancing the NCU campus microgrid project, ICP has recently secured a disaster-resilient microgrid project for the community activity center in Duona Village, Maolin District, Kaohsiung. Through these initiatives, ICP is actively driving the deployment of microgrid solutions across both educational institutions and public disaster-preparedness infrastructure, while continuously expanding its cross-domain innovation capabilities and accumulating diverse experience in microgrid development and energy management.

Looking ahead, ICP will continue to deepen its expertise and expand applications in microgrids, energy storage systems, virtual power plants (VPPs), and energy management platforms. The company aims to help campuses, enterprises, and public-sector organizations build more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy environments, while further extending the reach and value of its smart energy services.