California’s Visalia Unified School District to Install 1.6 MWh of Green Charge Energy Storage
Green Charge, an ENGIE Company, announced that the Visalia Unified School District will install 1.6-megawatt hours of energy storage at five schools in the district. The energy storage system, coupled with solar, is expected to save the school district more than $1,000,000 over the 10-year contract. The Visalia school district invested in the energy storage system, which will become the largest installation of energy storage systems in a Tulare County school district. Green Charge’s energy storage solution will be on display at the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) Fall Central Section Fall Conference on Friday, September 29 at the Wyndham Hotel in Visalia, CA.
“Some K-12 school districts do not realize that deploying an energy storage system will save significant money,” said Rick Brown, Ph.D., president, Terra Verde Renewable Partners, project managers for the Visalia USD energy storage project. “Savings generated from demand charge reduction are an indirect boon to education, since paying less for electricity leaves more in the operational budget.”
Green Charge was recently named the number one energy storage company by Navigant Research and their customer portfolio includes more than 100 California schools. The Green Charge energy storage systems are monitored, optimized, and controlled through its proprietary software platform. The Green Charge system includes GridSynergy® Storage, a customized indoor/outdoor lithium-ion-based battery storage unit and GridSynergy Software, providing visibility, analytics and managing demand for energy and providing visibility into savings. Adding energy storage to solar PV, allows Visalia to smooth out peaks and gaps in generation and energy use caused by facility operations.
”Over the past 5 years our Board has directed us to implement solar and energy conservation projects that reduce operational costs and demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship. We are excited to move into this new technology to advance our continuous search for cost-effective energy solutions,” noted Robert Groeber, Assistant Superintendent at Visalia USD.
“Green Charge has installed more energy storage systems at more school districts throughout California than any other provider,” said Vic Shao, president and CEO at Green Charge. “What is significant for cash-strapped schools is that funds generated from energy storage can be made available almost as soon as the energy storage system is installed, thanks to California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP). This program promotes the installation of certain technologies (among them solar PV and energy storage) that are deployed to meet all or a portion of a facility’s electricity needs. Converted to general funds, all of these funds can enable schools to commit to much-needed infrastructural improvements, hire additional teachers, or fund traditionally cash-strapped arts programs.”
