Peninsula Advanced Energy Community (PAEC)
The Clean Coalition will accelerate the planning, approval, and deployment of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and related projects in San Mateo County
Natural Capitalism Solutions, dba Clean Coalition
Recipient
Santa Barbara, CA
Recipient Location
21st
Senate District
37th
Assembly District
$1,256,872
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
This project concluded in June 2018 and Clean Coalition submitted a finalized master community design and case study, including four SEM models for different sites located in a disadvantaged community. These models integrate solar PV, energy storage, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure (EVCI), to increase resiliency from power outages. The project team is still pursuing a plan to connect all four sites, and is working with PG&E on the design. Additionally, several tools were developed to overcome economic, policy, and technical barriers that hinder AEC development, which include a streamlined permitting tool, a solar siting survey, and an EVCI master plan. The recipient has updated the project-specific page on their website: http://www.clean-coalition.org/our-work/peninsula-advanced-energy-commu….
The Issue
Solar Emergency Microgrid (SEM) projects often struggle to establish a clear payback period, as payback periods are largely site-specific, requiring intensive analysis to determine which sites will provide the best value proposition. This analysis can drive up the soft costs associated with microgrid projects. SEM projects also struggle to demonstrate acceptable pay-back periods needed to secure project financing. This is partly due to putting a monetary value on resiliency benefits provided by the microgrid.
Project Innovation
Clean Coalition planned and designed a Solar Emergency Microgrid (SEM) for the southern portion of San Mateo County. The team developed several case studies to guide SEM site selection based on which services would be included and their implicit or minimum loads, facility type, interconnection options, resources available, proximity of the site to local hazards, and available financing options. The project team used the case studies to inform their work with the local planning and building departments to streamline zoning and engineering permitting for optimal SEM sites. To help incentivize microgrid investments, including for the project's SEM, the project team worked to establish a backup power valuation methodology to use in commercial applications.
Project Benefits
Senate Bill 350 (2015) sets a 50 percent renewable energy standard and a goal of doubling energy efficiency savings by 2030. Local governments are playing a critical role in achieving this goal by helping facilitate community-scale deployment of Integrated Distributed Energy Resources (IDER) such as energy efficiency, onsite renewables, demand response, and electric vehicles. This project is piloting innovative planning, permitting, and financing approaches and tools to help improve the business case for IDER adoption at the community-scale.
Consumer Appeal
Greater deployment of AECs will increase consumer familiarity and comfort with Zero Net Energy homes and communities, increasing the likelihood of consumers choosing to live in an AEC.
Affordability
Streamlined planning and permitting, as well as new financial models will lower the time and capital costs associated with the AEC developments. This will make AECs more affordable for both developers and consumers.
Economic Development
This project is piloting new approaches that increase the financial attractiveness of community-scale IDER projects, which could lead to increased investment in the community.
Energy Security
Microgrids using renewable energy generation, coupled with storage systems, allows consumers to generate their own energy locally.
Key Project Members
Heyward Robinson
Subrecipients
DNV GL USA, Inc. Maritime
Menlo Spark
Sovereign Storage, LLC
Sven Thesen & Associates
County of San Mateo, Office of Sustainability
Town of Atherton
Justine Burt
Kristin Duriseti
Match Partners
Natural Capitalism Solutions, dba Clean Coalition
