SolMicroGrid announced the completion of a microgrid project at a Chick-fil-A Quarry Creek in Oceanside, California. SolMicroGrid typically leverages a combination of solar, on-site battery energy storage and generators to enable reliable and continuous power to its clients.
The project at this Chick-fil-A restaurant includes an 81-kWh battery energy storage system and has a 112-kW solar array consisting of canopy and ground-mounted modules. The project’s components are all controlled by a sophisticated energy management system which optimizes the performance and maximizes the synergies between the technologies.
Due to the location’s unique, sloped terrain, SolMicroGrid approached the ground-mount installation with a technique specifically designed for rocky slopes — using ground screws instead of standard concrete-poured footings. Among other benefits, microgrid projects strategically deploy distributed energy resources to lower energy bills. The Oceanside project is expected to deliver about one-third of the restaurant’s annual energy needs at a 10% discount to grid power.
“The combination of solar and battery storage that we provided Chick-fil-A will help reduce energy costs while also achieving sustainability goals,” said Kirk Edelman, CEO of SolMicroGrid. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to provide Chick-fil-A with renewable energy at a discount.”
SolMicroGrid and Chick-fil-A’s latest achievement comes after successful microgrid deployments at local owner-operated locations at Chick-fil-A Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, California, and Chick-fil-A March Lane at I-5 in Stockton.
“Chick-fil-A’s investment in piloting solar-powered microgrids, in partnership with SolMicroGrid, demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Peden Young, a principal program lead on the sustainability team at Chick-fil-A, Inc. “Harnessing renewable energy onsite at our restaurants reduces our environmental footprint, while also reflecting Chick-fil-A’s dedication to pursuing what’s next and caring for our planet.”
News item from SolMicroGrid
“The project at this Chick-fil-A restaurant includes an 81-kWh battery energy storage system and has a 112-kW solar array consisting of canopy and ground-mounted modules. The project’s components are all controlled by a sophisticated energy management system which optimizes the performance and maximizes the synergies between the technologies.”
Scale down just a little and use more “programming” to control the “charge/discharge” energy storage [synergies] could allow a home from small to large to become grid agnostic. Perhaps say a 15-20kWh solar PV array on the roof or “property” and a 56kWh energy storage system with the right software could be programmed on the fly for daily solar PV storage and time shifting to use in TOU rates of the day, arbitrage, using off peak grid to charge the battery pack to allow resiliency back up during a PSPS ‘safety’ event or weather induced grid fail.