Solar Emergency Microgrids for Fremont Fire Stations - Demonstrating Energy Savings and Grid Resilience for Critical Facilities

Gridscape Solutions, in partnership with the City of Fremont and funded by California CEC with $1.8 million grant funding, installed solar emergency microgrid systems at three fire stations in Fremont, California. Each of the microgrid systems consists of a microgrid energy management system (EnergyScopeTM), a parking lot solar photovoltaic canopy system, and a battery energy storage system. The automated microgrid control system optimally manages local energy resources in on-grid and off-grid situations. The system provides energy cost savings when connected to the grid and at least 4-6 hours of clean renewable power during a utility power outage, which might be caused by natural disasters (wildfire or earthquake).
Under a 10-year power purchase agreement/energy savings agreement with the City of Fremont, Gridscape will continue to own, operate, and maintain the microgrid system at the three fire stations. The project is estimated to result in energy cost savings of at least $250,000 over 10 years and about 142,000 pounds of greenhouse gas reduction annually. The project has demonstrated ratepayer benefits ranging from lower energy costs, clean power during outages, lower distribution grid upgrade costs, and many other benefits to the ratepayers as well as city residents.
This project serves as a proof of concept applying a solar emergency microgrid for critical facilities, and also paves the way for mass commercialization of the microgrid technology developed under this grant across many other California cities such as Stockton, Fontana, Richmond, and globally.