On January 26, 2023, AlphaStruxure, a Carlyle Group and Schneider Electric joint venture, announced an agreement to design, construct, and operate integrated microgrid infrastructure at the New Terminal One (NTO) at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.[1] The 11.34 MW microgrid will be built under an “energy-as-a-service” model, and will include about 7.7 MW of rooftop solar, 3.7 MW of fuel cells, and 2 MW/4 MWh of battery storage. It will utilize re-claimed heat to generate chilled water and heat hot water. The microgrid will consist of four power islands that include generation, storage, and automation and control systems. According to the press release, greenhouse gas emissions from the microgrid will be 38% less than grid-provided electricity.

The first gates of the 2.4 million square foot terminal are expected to be open in 2026, with full completion anticipated by 2030. NTO will rely on power from the grid, but if that is cut off, the terminal will still be able to operate through its microgrid, making it one of the first airport hubs in the region that can function off-grid. Carlyle, a private equity firm, is financing the microgrid, while Schneider Electric is providing the microgrid technology, software, and services. The terminal’s developers will pay for the project through an Energy as a Service (EaaS) contract, a long-term agreement ensuring predictable operating costs and guaranteed performance without upfront capital expenditures.

[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alphastruxure-to-design-construct-and-operate-jfks-new-terminal-one-microgrid-creating-the-largest-rooftop-terminal-solar-array-in-the-us-301731016.html