Solar+Storage Project at Albuquerque Public Schools will Provide Resiliency and Cost Savings
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 25 October 2021 – (Solar Business Hub) Albuquerque Public Schools announces the largest solar installation amongst all other Albuquerque Public Schools and the state’s most extensive battery system at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School. The clean energy systems contain 2,208 Tier-1 panels that have a DC capacity of 850 Kilo-Watts and a Tesla Megapack 2 that can deploy a capacity of 2,887 KWh for peak shaving.
The clean energy installation designed and constructed by OE Solar, a locally founded solar EPC, will save money for the district by reducing energy costs by 3.5 million dollars over the system’s 25 year lifetime. The system can be configured to provide backup power to the school in case of a grid outage. The project is jointly supported by Albuquerque Public Schools, OE Solar, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity, Sandia National Laboratories, and the New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
The Atrisco School project is jointly supported by a $300,000 cost-share from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity (DOE-OE) and a grant from New MEXICO EMNRD. Sandia National Laboratories is providing technical support for the project and will collect operational data to inform DOE’s national research as part of the DOE-OE Stationary Energy Storage Program under the direction of Dr. Imre Gyuk.
Through its contract with Sandia National Laboratories, the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) is playing a coordinating role in project development, reporting, and documentation. OE Solar is the photovoltaic expert installing both the solar array and energy storage technology.
Atrisco Heritage Academy High School is a bilingual education facility rich in diverse ethnicities and higher education college prep programs. Atrisco Heritage High School serves 2,200 students within the Albuquerque Public School District, of which 14% of students come from disadvantaged households.
The school is recognizing a decrease in high school enrollment, making energy demand charges crucial. With the advanced PV technology, the school will lower peak demand costs and could potentially be used as a shelter during power outages and environmental crises for the surrounding communities.
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the Atrisco Heritage High School on October 25th, 2021, 10:30 AM.
Karen Alarid, APS Executive Director of Capital, said:
“This project is another step in our long-term commitment to environmental responsibility. APS is proud to be at the forefront of solar power and energy storage deployment in the public school sector.”
Dr. Imre Gyuk, Director of Energy Storage Research, DOE Office of Electricity, noted:
“This is advanced energy technology for the benefit of the public, saving energy and reducing costs. The project will serve as an example for other schools in New Mexico and throughout the U.S.”
Dan Borneo, Sandia Projects Lead, said:
“This project will allow Sandia National Laboratories to investigate how real world electrical energy storage can reduce day-to-day energy costs.”
Dr. David Peercy, President of APS Board of Education, said:
“Albuquerque Public Schools is pleased to partner with the Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, and the State of New Mexico to create a ground-breaking project that paves the way to a responsible, cost-effective and sustainable future for our students and community.”
Louise Martinez, EMNRD Energy Conservation and Management Division Director said:
“Energy storage is a critical component in reaching our state’s ambitious clean electricity goals. Pairing energy storage and solar power will help APS reduce electricity costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity use. We are excited to support this project that demonstrates the value of using energy storage and solar for grid security to others across New Mexico.”
Learn more about this project in a free webinar on Friday, November 5th at:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5402178122533777164
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About Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools is the largest school district in New Mexico and one of the nation’s largest, covering more than 1,230 square miles of geographical area. Currently, APS has 13 high schools, 2 K-8 schools, 12 schools of choice, 27 middle schools and 88 elementary schools, plus 29 APS-authorized Charter schools. APS has approximately 75,000 students and 11,000 employees. An elected Board of Education composed of seven members, serving staggered terms of four years each, governs APS. The Superintendent is Scott Elder.
For more information, visit www.aps.edu
About OE Solar
OE Solar is a premier solar EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving an ever-expanding region of the Southwest. Established in 2009, focusing on innovation, craftsmanship, and culture, OE Solar has designed and built nearly 20 MW of solar energy infrastructure for Municipalities, Schools, Federal Governments, Sovereign Nations, and Fortune 500 companies. OE Solar empowers communities by opening new revenue streams, creating jobs while consistently engaging in solar education, and partnering with emerging technologies. Their award-winning renewable energy work is recognized nationally, and they are a Top 100 EPC in the nation.
For more information, visit oesolarnm.com
About the Clean Energy States Alliance
The Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy. CESA members – mostly state agencies – include many of the most innovative, successful, and influential public funders of clean energy initiatives in the country. CESA’s Energy Storage Technology Advancement Partnership (ESTAP), funded by U.S.DOE-OE and Sandia National Laboratories, is a federal-state funding and information-sharing project that aims to accelerate the deployment of electrical energy storage technologies in the U.S.
For more information, visit www.cesa.org
Media Contact
Samantha Donalds
Communications Coordinator
Clean Energy Group
[email protected]
Press release provided by Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). Photo credit: Atrisco Heritage Academy High School via Twitter.
