Occidental Arts & Ecology Middle.
Occidental Arts & Ecology Middle (OAEC), in partnership with RE-volv and Very important Vitality Options, not too long ago put in a 124-kW photo voltaic and 540-kWh battery storage system at their 80-acre farm and demonstration web site in Sonoma County, California. With 270 photo voltaic panels, together with some mounted on high of a carport outfitted with EV chargers, OAEC’s new microgrid system is uniquely designed to fulfill 100% of their present vitality wants in addition to some projected future load development.
As climate-related disasters turn into extra frequent and vitality costs proceed to spike, with the potential for additional volatility below latest modifications to vitality coverage, OAEC is taking steps to safe a resilient future. With battery storage, the group can disconnect from the grid and hold the lights on throughout wildfire dangers and frequent rural energy outages. This microgrid will energy OAEC’s property year-round, supporting environmental changemakers, internet hosting group retreats and advancing initiatives that restore organic and cultural range.
“Solar energy is an effective reply to a bunch of questions — how we will create our personal electrical energy, construct neighborhood resilience and decrease our carbon footprint,” stated Dave Henson, government director of OAEC.
Native installer Very important Vitality Options was the EPC on the microgrid system with assist from the OAEC development crew. The mission was partially financed via RE-volv, a nonprofit that helps fellow nonprofits nationwide go photo voltaic by offering entry to wash vitality financing. RE-volv was capable of finance this mission with funding assist from The Schmidt Household Basis, the Kresge Basis and Candide’s Afterglow Local weather Justice Fund, together with grant assist from OTTWAY.
“When a legendary sustainability schooling group like OAEC builds a mission like this, the ripple impact is super,” stated Andreas Karelas, government director of RE-volv. “Hundreds of tourists that come to study permaculture and sustainable design right here, will hopefully be impressed to duplicate these ideas and construct resilience via photo voltaic and storage microgrids again of their communities.”
Information merchandise from RE-volv
