Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center

About MAREC

Partnership & Cooperation

MAREC is the realization of the SmartZone vision of the State of Michigan and the culimination of a cooperative effort involving the following  organizations.

  • Grand Valley State University
  • The City of Muskegon
  • Michigan Economic Development Corporation
  • Muskegon Chamber of Commerce
  • Michigan Public Service Commission
  • Muskegon Area First
  • Muskegon Community College
  • Community Foundation for Muskegon County

The foresight, leadership, and support of these organizations have made it possible to pursue a vision with global implications for the development of alternative and renewable energy sources.  The 25,000 square foot advanced demonstration of distributed electric generation, became fully operational in the Spring of 2004. The objective of MAREC is to select and demonstrate the technical viability and economic performance of renewable and alternative energy technologies. It is also an incubating center for new energy companies and offers a wide range of educational programs. 

Six thousand total square feet of photovoltaic panel covers the southern side of each "barrel" on the roof of the facility and produces up to 30 kW of power. A micro turbine is used to supply up to 30 kW of dynamic power and the heat recovered from this technology is utilized to augment the facility’s sidewalk ice melt system. In additon, as part of MAREC’s Offshore Wind Initiative, a 1.8 kW wind turbine was installed for demonstration purposes.
 
MAREC is integrated with the local utility, Consumers Energy, via MAREC’s computer controlled switch board. MAREC’s Interconnect Agreement stipulates that the power MAREC consumes from the utility is purchased at the negotiated electric rate which has been around 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. MAREC in turn only receives 2.1 cents per kilowatt-hour when electricity is exported to the utility. The excess power that MAREC generates can not be economically exported under this existing policy, not until such a time a  Renewable Portfolio Standard with more favorable feed-in tariffs are implemented in the State of Michigan.

 

US Renewable Portfolio Standards Map slide

 

 

 

Page last modified January 11, 2013