When designing a microgrid for mission-critical operations, fuel availability is just as important as generation capacity. Natural gas offers many advantages over diesel, including cleaner emissions, lower maintenance, and steady pricing, but its effectiveness depends on uninterrupted access. For facilities that cannot afford downtime, even a low-probability supply disruption poses unacceptable risk.

Ensuring redundancy in the natural gas supply chain means more than simply trusting the local utility. It requires a strategy that accounts for infrastructure vulnerabilities, regulatory constraints, and physical system design. For data centers, healthcare facilities, government installations, and other critical sites, proactive planning can make the difference between continuous power and extended outage.

Why Fuel Redundancy Matters for Natural Gas Systems

Natural gas is delivered through underground distribution networks, which are generally more secure than above-ground fuel transport. However, no system is immune to disruption. Pipeline damage, compressor station failures, extreme cold snaps, or utility coordination issues can affect availability, particularly during peak demand periods.

Facilities that rely solely on a single pipeline without a backup plan may be exposed to operational risks. Even short-term curtailments or pressure drops can cause power loss or trigger load shedding events if not properly mitigated. Building redundancy into the fuel supply plan helps ensure uninterrupted generation during utility failures, weather events, or regional emergencies.

Best Practices for Securing Natural Gas Supply Redundancy

1. Dual-Feed Gas Line Access
In some regions, it is possible to secure two independent feeds from separate branches of the natural gas distribution system. This setup reduces the risk of a single-point failure affecting the entire facility. Dual feeds should be isolated with control valves and monitored independently to ensure real-time visibility.

Where available, working with the utility provider to establish multiple points of interconnection can provide a meaningful layer of redundancy without major infrastructure changes to the property.

2. On-Site Compressed or Liquefied Natural Gas (CNG or LNG) Storage
For locations without a second pipeline option, on-site storage offers a viable alternative. Compressed natural gas tanks or liquefied natural gas systems can be installed to supply fuel during a utility outage. The storage system can be sized based on projected runtime needs, typically providing several hours or days of operation.

These systems require periodic refueling, but unlike diesel, natural gas storage does not degrade in the same way and presents fewer environmental concerns. When configured correctly, automatic switchover systems can shift from utility gas to stored fuel without operator intervention.

3. Hybrid Fuel Systems with Dual-Fuel Capability
Another option is to deploy dual-fuel generation systems that can operate on both natural gas and diesel. In normal conditions, the system runs on gas for cost and emissions advantages. If the gas supply is interrupted, it can switch to diesel without performance loss.

This approach adds flexibility and resilience, especially in regions with unstable supply chains or limited pipeline redundancy. It does, however, require onsite diesel storage and regular maintenance of both fuel systems.

4. Utility Coordination and Firm Gas Contracts
Working closely with the local gas utility is critical. Facilities should pursue firm gas transportation contracts rather than interruptible service agreements. Interruptible contracts may offer cost savings, but they are the first to be curtailed during demand spikes or system strain.

Firm contracts ensure a guaranteed allocation of fuel during peak periods. In some cases, backup agreements with third-party gas marketers can also provide added supply flexibility, particularly if the site has access to multiple supply zones.

5. Monitoring and Pressure Management Systems
Continuous monitoring of gas flow, pressure, and quality helps identify issues early and trigger failover protocols. Pressure sensors, flow meters, and digital telemetry systems provide real-time insight into pipeline health and ensure operators are aware of subtle shifts before they lead to full disruption.

Integrating this data into the microgrid control system allows for automated fuel management, load balancing, and fault detection, minimizing the chance of manual error during high-stress scenarios.

Designing for Long-Term Resilience

Redundancy planning should be built into the project from day one. This includes physical space for storage, access roads for refueling vehicles, sensor infrastructure for monitoring, and regulatory compliance for secondary fuel systems.

E-Finity incorporates fuel redundancy planning into every critical infrastructure microgrid we design. Whether through dual-capacity interconnects, on-site storage, or multi-fuel integration, our systems are built to deliver power without interruption, regardless of what’s happening upstream in the supply chain.