Architectural rendering courtesy of the City of Manchester, Connecticut.
Eaton has announced it will provide a 370 kW solar microgrid for the new Manchester Public Library in Connecticut, helping the structure achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE) ready status.
The newly built library will implement network-interactive renewables, battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging, maximizing energy savings and reducing pressure on the local electricity grid. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the project aims to achieve Zero Net Energy (ZNE) status.
Using his “Buildings as a grid” approach that enables flexible energy systems, Eaton enables the city of Manchester to strategically balance energy production and consumption while increasing the flexibility of the electricity grid. Eaton will synchronize on-site renewables, energy storage and electric vehicle charging with local energy markets, allowing the library to optimize energy consumption and the utility to better manage peak demand and support the electric grid.
“The new Manchester Public Library demonstrates how smart energy management can reduce costs and demand on the electricity grid while optimizing resilience and sustainability,” said Paul Ryan, VP and general manager of energy transition at Eaton. “We are confident that our proven intelligent solutions and expertise in energy management will benefit the city of Manchester and its residents for decades to come.”
Eaton is providing the electrical infrastructure, turnkey engineering services and ROI (Return on Investment) models for the project. With its microgrid control solution and grid-interactive xStorage battery energy storage system (BESS), Eaton will help the library maximize on-site solar energy consumption and export excess electricity to support grid stability. In addition, Eaton is leveraging its first EV charging partnership with ChargePoint to provide vehicle charging infrastructure that helps intelligently reduce costs, effectively manage on-site power requirements and increase reliability.
“Our community overwhelmingly supports our investment in this state-of-the-art library as a beacon of sustainability, innovation and education,” said Steve Stephanou, City Manager of the City of Manchester. “Eaton’s forward-thinking solutions and strong relationships with the project team have been essential in making our goal of building the first net-zero public library in Connecticut a reality.”
The project is supported by federal tax credits, state and local financing and incentives through the Energy Storage Solutions program. This program is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), paid for by electricity ratepayers, and administered by the Connecticut Green Bank, Eversource, and the United Illuminating Company (UI). Learn more about how Eaton is helping to electrify the grid-interactive buildings of the future.
News item from Eaton
