SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Green Charge Networks, LLC, the largest provider of commercial energy storage in the US, today announced that systems are live and operational for California’s largest school energy storage project. Serving more than 17,000 students in San Diego, Grossmont Union High School installed Green Charge’s GridSynergy™ Storage with $6.4 million in projected savings and revenues. The systems and installation came at no cost to the district through Green Charge’s Power Efficiency Agreement™ (PEA) shared-savings model.
“We have seen a 40 percent increase in demand rates in one year,” said Lindsey Danner, Energy Manager from GUHSD. “The district has taken thoughtful steps to reduce our carbon footprint and energy costs by replacing indoor and outdoor lighting with energy-efficient LEDs. However, reducing our energy use wasn’t putting much of a dent in our demand charges; energy storage can mitigate that problem.”
Grossmont now has seven systems live, and when the portfolio is fully installed, the district will have nearly seven megawatt-hours of energy storage deployed at 14 sites, making it the largest K-12 energy storage installation in California. Grossmont was the first customer to install the latest generation of Green Charge’s energy storage systems. Grossmont has a mix of 30kW/60kWh and 250kW/500kWh systems, spread throughout the district’s campuses. Controlled by GridSynergy Software, the storage systems are part of a proven industry solution that allow customers to see additional revenues and surges in demand. Customized algorithms direct the battery storage systems to discharge enough power to prevent spikes in the amount of energy drawn from the grid. During off-peak hours, the batteries recharge minimizing the cost of covering peaks in demand.
In addition to peak demand reduction savings, GridSynergy Software generates revenues for the district by enabling the storage system to automatically participate in demand response, ISO and virtual power plant programs. Grossmont is already enrolled in one program and will have opportunities to generate additional revenues throughout the life of the storage system. The district can access information on performance in these programs online at any time. To learn more about the Grossmont installation click here for a copy of their case study.
“The Green Charge PEA shared savings model, enables us to work closely with the district to generate cost savings and additional revenue utilizing Green Charge’s energy storage systems controlled by our GridSynergy Software,” said Vic Shao CEO at Green Charge. “This energy storage system serves Grossmont first and foremost by supporting its sustainability efforts and garnering additional revenues.”
About Green Charge:
Green Charge has been designing and deploying commercial energy storage since 2009, with systems installed throughout the United States. Part of ENGIE, the largest independent power producer in the world, Green Charge’s mission is to use energy storage to power the world efficiently and sustainably. Our team consists of top energy storage industry experts, who provide performance-based solutions to optimize the value of energy for our customers. Our ecosystem of solar, EV charging, and energy efficiency partners allows our customers to combine energy storage and renewables easily and economically. Delivering all these capabilities with the least possible risk is the Green Charge Power Efficiency Agreement—a shared-savings model that puts the power of energy storage in customers’ hands with no capital outlay. Visit www.greencharge.net for more information.
About Grossmont Union High School District
The District covers a 465-square-mile area in eastern San Diego County including: the cities of El Cajon, Santee and Lemon Grove, most of the City of La Mesa, a small portion of City of San Diego and the unincorporated communities of Alpine, Dulzura, Jamul, Lakeside, and Spring Valley. The District was established in 1920 and currently operates nine comprehensive high schools, two charter high schools, one continuation high school, two alternative education sites, three special education facilities, a middle college high school program, a Career Technical Education Program, and an adult education program with a student population of approximately 17,000 students in 2016-17.
