Reducing peak energy demand and grid congestion

In 2015, the Irvine Company, a leader in commercial real estate, and AMS launched a groundbreaking initiative to create the world’s first fleet of Hybrid Electric Buildings® (HEBs). In the first phase of the project, AMS is designing, installing and operating advanced energy storage systems at 20 office buildings in southern California. The project will reduce peak energy demand and grid congestion in the Aliso Canyon region, which is projected to experience blackouts due to the 2015 natural gas leak.

A 10 megawatt network solution

The fleet of HEBs will be powered by a 10 MW network of state-of-the-art Tesla batteries, which are charged during nonpeak hours and used during peak daytime hours or in the event of a power failure. AMS will use advanced analytics software to optimize Irvine Company’s energy usage, reducing energy costs and providing reliable back-up power during outages. The project will also provide Southern California Edison, Irvine Company’s utility company, with up to 10 MW of reserve capacity — enough to supply power to 10,000 homes.

“Energy storage is a game-changer. It will allow building owners to participate in grid support and reduce costs while causing no disruption or discomfort to our customers, residents or guests.”

Rich Bluth,
VP of Energy Management,
Irvine Co.

A first-of-its-kind energy storage project

California State University (CSU), the nation’s largest public four-year university system, has a longstanding commitment to sustainability. Through innovative facility design and renovation projects, CSU has reduced operational costs by $8 million annually and leveraged more than $13 million in utility incentives since 2003. Now, the system is adding to its impressive track record with a first-of-its-kind energy storage project.

The first fleet of Hybrid Electric Buildings® at an educational institution

In summer 2016, CSU enlisted Advanced Microgrid Solutions to install the first fleet of Hybrid Electric Buildings® at an educational institution. The first system is located at CSU Long Beach and will be followed by installations at the CSU Office of the Chancellor and CSU Dominguez Hills. This state-of-the-art, multi-campus fleet of HEBs will reduce CSU’s peak energy costs by more than $3.3 million and provide enough energy storage capacity to power 2,000 homes. The systems will provide critical support to California’s electric grid and optimize building load at sites with existing and planned solar, as well as electric vehicle charging.

“This transformational system will support California’s environment and direct resources to support the academic mission of the CSU.”

Steve Relyea,
CSU Executive Vice Chancellor
and Chief Financial Officer

San Francisco's First Hybrid Electric Building Project

Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investment Trust enlisted Advanced Microgrid Solutions to transform San Francisco’s One Maritime Plaza into the City’s first Hybrid Electric Building®. AMS is installing a 500 kW / 1,000 kWh indoor Tesla Powerpack system that will lower the 534,000 square foot building’s peak energy demand while supporting the electric grid. AMS will operate the system, with no maintenance required from Morgan Stanley.

Enhancing utility demand response programs

The energy storage system at One Maritime Plaza will provide essential grid support by reducing the building’s peak energy demand and curbing costly, unpredictable spikes in energy usage. The battery project will integrate with the existing building management system to enhance participation in utility demand response programs.

A leader in sustainable water and energy management

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) is a leader in sustainable water and energy management. With a diverse portfolio of renewable energy including wind, solar, fuel cells and food-waste-to-energy, the agency has the capacity to generate 7.3 MW of alternative power. Now, AMS is helping IEUA optimize renewable resources, reduce demand on the electric grid and lower operating costs through advanced energy storage.

Integrating onsite wind and solar generation

In 2016, AMS began installation of a 500 kW / 1,000 kWh Tesla energy storage system at IEUA’s Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 5 (RP-5). AMS custom-designed the system to help IEUA integrate 1 MW of onsite solar and 3 MW of onsite fuel cell generation at the facility. Now, IEUA can store excess renewables and use them to power RP-5 when demand on the electrical grid is high – lowering costs for ratepayers and contributing to a faster, more resilient electrical grid for the entire region.

Optimizing IEUA’s resource portfolio

The system is part of a 3.5 MW / 7 MWh project across six IEUA facilities, including wastewater treatment and recycling plants, composting facilities and pumping stations. The energy storage systems will range in size from 150 kW to 1,250 kW and will be custom-designed to optimize IEUA’s resource portfolio and time of power consumption. AMS’ energy storage and control technologies will balance solar, wind, and other on-site generation resources, increasing the capacity value of their solar PV, reducing operating costs by up to 10% and providing critical support to the agency customers and the electric grid.

“Energy storage is the key to maximizing the value of our investments, allowing us to use resources more efficiently, reduce costs for our customers and participate in building a more resilient electric grid for the whole region.”

Terry Catlin,
IEUA Board President

A fleet of HEBs®

Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS) is working with Southern California Edison (SCE) to build a smarter, cleaner and more resilient grid. In November 2014, SCE awarded AMS with a 50 MW contract to install advanced energy storage systems at commercial and industrial sites. With Southern California facing record high temperatures and power outages, this fleet of Hybrid Electric Buildings® (HEBs) will allow SCE to access its customers’ battery loads to alleviate congestion on the electric grid.

A virtual power plant

When demand on the grid is high, the HEBs will use state-of-the-art battery technology and advanced analytics software to aggregate multiple building loads and shift them from the electric grid to battery power. The fleet will serve as a virtual power plant, providing California’s largest electric utility with up to 50 MW of firm, dispatchable demand reduction, helping to prevent blackouts and easing the need to build additional power plants. AMS is helping to turn some of SCE’s largest energy users into its cleanest, most efficient resources.

Benefitting Shell and the grid

AMS and Shell Energy will work together to identify new and existing direct access and utility customers who want to install advanced battery systems. With this innovative, forward-looking agreement, Shell Energy furthers its commitment to customer service by offering the latest in energy management, cost reduction, emergency generation and technology advancements.

Integrating renewables with advanced analytics software

The project includes development of a commercial microgrid consisting of solar, battery storage and back-up diesel generation integrated with distribution-level feeder operations and the regional transmission operator; a DERs management demonstration project; and a feeder-based microgrid featuring wind resources, grid-scale energy storage and up to 10 residential battery systems. AMS’s platform will perform an economic optimization of the DERs, while Opus One’s GridOS® will ensure that the DERs are optimally dispatched within the physical constraints of the grid.

Reducing demand without interrupting water treatment operations

The 7 MW / 34 MWh network of advanced energy storage systems, featuring Tesla batteries, will be installed at 11 of IRWD’s largest and most energy-intensive facilities. Stored energy and advanced load control technologies will be used to reduce demand from the electric grid when requested by the local utility Southern California Edison without interrupting water treatment operations. The stored energy will also allow IRWD to increase participation in demand response programs, reducing the need for additional supply from fossil fuel generation in a region challenged by the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Real-time insight into energy intensity and costs

The project is expected to reduce the District’s energy costs by more than $500,000 annually, while contributing to a more flexible and reliable electric grid. The energy storage systems at IRWD will be linked together as a network, providing facility managers with real-time insight into the energy intensity and cost of treating and transporting water.