The microgrid project at Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, CA won an Innovation Award from Energy Storage North America earlier this month. The Jail’s microgrid, which utilizes fuel cells, 1.2 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV), energy storage, and microturbines, provides resiliency and “islanding” capabilities (meaning the Jail can independently generate and store its own energy) that support the Jail’s total electric demand of 3 megawatts (MW).
Click here to see a case study on the project from the energy storage solution vendor S&C, or here to read more about the project from Alameda County and Chevron Energy Solutions.
The Jail implemented a number of energy efficiency improvements (supported by PG&E incentives), including lighting upgrades and boiler retrofits, as well as solar hot water and water efficiency improvements, prior to the microgrid project development. Read updates on the Jail’s microgrid here.