Call Now

HPP’s DC Microgrid

Ready To Build The Future Of Power?

Whether you're powering homes, factories, or compute clusters, AEG delivers the DC infrastructure that makes clean energy work at scale. Our team brings over 60 years of combined experience in renewable energy, industrial systems, and project development.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

For more than 10 years, Hyde Park Partners (HPP) has operated and evolved one of the most mature direct current (DC) microgrids in the United States. What began as an experimental collaboration has become a production-grade energy system powering real facilities while serving as a live research and development platform.

The HPP DC Microgrid demonstrates how DC power can be generated, distributed, shared, and consumed more efficiently—without the conversion losses and limitations of traditional AC systems.

Project Overview

Location: Hyde Park Partners Headquarters, Charlotte, North Carolina

System Type: Solar-powered DC microgrid with battery back up, connected to AC utility

Status: Fully operational, continuously expanded

Use Case: Production power + live R&D environment

The system supports lighting, office loads, servers, and test infrastructure while enabling ongoing innovation in DC power electronics, controls, and lighting.

From Concept to Reality: Early Development (2013–2014)

HPP began development of its DC microgrid in partnership with Bosch, exploring how solar-generated DC power could be used directly inside a commercial facility. The system was installed in 2014, with interconnection approval secured to allow excess power to be sold back to the utility.

During this phase:

  • HPP began operating as a prosumer
  • Multiple inverter configurations were tested
  • High-bay LED lighting was installed and powered directly by DC

This marked one of the earliest real-world demonstrations of DC loads operating natively from a DC microgrid.

Independence and Focus (2018–2019)

When Bosch exited the DC microgrid market in 2018, the future of the system was uncertain. Rather than decommissioning the installation, HPP chose to continue development independently—preserving the system and negotiating the ability to move forward.

In 2019, Direct Energy Partners (DEP) was formed to advance DC microgrid technology for an emerging market, shifting the project from experimental to commercially focused development.

Partnership and Expansion (2020–2021)

AEG and Direct Energy Partners formalized their collaboration in 2020, using the HPP site as a live DC laboratory. The system continued to power daily operations while simultaneously supporting R&D.

Key milestones included:

  • Creation of the DC Lab at HPP
  • Ongoing system upgrades and validation
  • Formal Master Partnership agreement in 2021
  • Migration to CE+T Stabiliti power conversion technology

This phase transformed the system into a scalable, commercial-ready platform.

Scaling the DC Ecosystem (2023–2024)

To support simultaneous production and research, a second DC microgrid (DCMG #2) was introduced. 

This enabled:

  • Parallel R&D and live facility operation
  • Expansion of 350 VDC distribution
  • DC lighting deployment throughout office spaces
  • Installation of PoE drivers and server panels

AEG also developed its own 350 VDC high-bay lighting driver, achieving over 98% efficiency.

In 2024, the two DC microgrids were interconnected via a DC bus—demonstrating active load sharing between microgrids, a critical capability for campuses and future DC communities.

System Modernization and Growth (2024–2025)

Ongoing improvements ensured long-term reliability and scalability:

  • Replacement of aging control panels with modern DC controllers and metering
  • Installation of a Schletter solar tracking system
  • Full warehouse conversion to AEG DC high-bay lighting
  • Additional rooftop solar installed in 2025 to increase DC output capacity

The system now operates daily as a resilient, production-grade DC energy platform.

Why This Project Matters

✔ Over a decade of continuous operation

✔ Proven DC microgrid reliability in a real facility

✔ Demonstrated load sharing between DC microgrids

✔ High-efficiency native DC lighting and power delivery

✔ Scalable model for commercial, industrial, and community applications

The Takeaway

The Hyde Park Partners DC Microgrid is not a pilot or a demonstration—it is a living, working example of how DC power can be deployed at scale, evolved over time, and integrated into real operations.

It stands as a blueprint for the future of efficient, resilient, behind-the-meter energy systems.