The Penobscot Nation has been selected Sunnova Energy International to deploy a 500 kW battery energy storage system (BESS) for the tribe’s community and commercial facilities. This BESS will better prepare Maine’s electrical grid for adverse weather events.
The system will capture excess solar production, estimated at 549,678 kWh per year, and provide resilience through load management. The microgrid can supplement on-site generation and continue to restore the BESS without grid support, providing a continued source of renewable energy during grid outages.
“The Penobscot Nation is particularly vulnerable to multi-day outages when severe weather occurs due to our location on Indian Island, Maine,” said Kirk Francis Sr., Chief of the Penobscot Nation. “Sunnova’s microgrid will provide a critical source of reliable energy in the event of an electrical grid failure, especially for our Penobscot Community and Commercial Centers, allowing us to maintain essential health and administrative services. Our community will benefit enormously from the sustainable electricity generated by the sun – and we will have greater peace of mind if the grid fails in the future.”
The award for Sunnova’s microgrid project comes after a number of extreme storms in Maine last winter and spring, which caused widespread power outages and infrastructure damage. With the highest number of power outages in the country in 2020, Maine is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather. The project is supported by the Maine Grid Resilience Program, which selected Sunnova along with six Maine utilities to deploy electric grid resiliency projects in communities across the state.
“The advanced solar microgrid for the Penobscot Nation will provide a source of clean, reliable energy to protect and strengthen the community for years to come,” said Michael Grasso, executive VP and chief revenue officer at Sunnova. “Community microgrids have proven to be highly effective in combating power outages, which are becoming increasingly common across the country. Recent devastating hurricanes, in addition to more regular heat waves and severe winter weather, all continue to expose the fragility of the power grid. Sunnova’s solar and battery storage systems provide a life-changing energy source for homeowners, businesses and communities.”
When there is a power outage or interruption to the grid, Sunnova’s solar and storage microgrid system is designed to provide stored power from the central battery, which is connected to multiple facilities in the community, and is able to distribute power as needed with a microgrid controller and the battery energy management system.
“By combining clean energy with smart technology, entire communities can generate and store solar energy on-site, creating cleaner air and less grid congestion for everyone,” said Adam Miller, VP of Microgrids at Sunnova. “While our microgrid technology is state-of-the-art, it is simple: Sunnova’s solar system generates the power while the battery storage component stores it, and then that clean energy can be used where and when needed, even if electricity grid goes out. ”
Sunnova’s solar and storage microgrid system for the Penobscot Nation will be supported by a 25-year service plan. Sunnova’s service commitments include operating and maintaining the production of all its systems for 25 years after installation, reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket costs for system maintenance or equipment repair or replacement, including labor.
News item from Sunnova
