by Shane Henson — October 22, 2012—Princeton Power Systems, a manufacturer of advanced power conversion products and alternative energy systems, announced the commissioning of a microgrid using its Optimized Energy Management System (OEMS) for Scripps Ranch’s Recreation Center in San Diego, California. According to Princeton Power Systems, the microgrid is intended to provide backup power to the facility in the case of power outages, as well as minimize demand charges and provide grid support functions.
The Scripps Ranch Recreation Center features an indoor gymnasium, a multipurpose room with kitchen, and classrooms, as well as two lighted ball fields and lighted outdoor basketball courts. The OEMS used to power the facility in case of a power outage consists of two PPS 100 kW Grid-tied Inverters, a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery module, and the balance of components, including a weatherproof enclosure and various disconnects and conduit, which collect power from a 30 kW solar array to store in the batteries, and serves the facility loads through a seamless transition from grid power to battery power.
During a power outage, the batteries and solar array provide backup power to the facility and emergency communication equipment.
“The system’s ability to manage energy from the solar array, battery bank, and utility grid, while operating in both on-grid and islanded modes, makes it a true microgrid,” said Darren Hammell, Princeton Power Systems’ executive vice president. “With this system, the Scripps Ranch Recreation Center has unprecedented energy security, reliability, and control over its energy usage.”
The City of San Diego and surrounding area is known for deploying pioneering energy technologies and natural resource conservation.
“The solar-battery project will be the first in Southern California, and one of the nation’s first, to integrate solar with an innovative battery backup system of this size and scale,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “We anticipate this project will serve as a learning platform for the rest of the nation.”
