Scale has designed a first of its kind clean energy microgrid to support the transition of the fleet to 100% battery electric buses. The microgrid is based on Scale’s modular microgrid framework that allows the system to grow in a cost-effective manner in the future.
The switchgear and controls are sized to accommodate load growth and the distributed energy resources are right- sized for the first deployment with planned additional capacity in the future.
The distributed energy resources combine to provide a drastic reduction in the cost of electricity delivered, as well as a 61% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The microgrid will also provide up to 24 hours of resilience to the VTA during emergency operations. Scale’s microgrid provides a more resilient, lower cost, and more sustainable platform for transportation electrification.
Microgrid Capacity at VTA
In conjunction with Proterra and Scale Microgrids, VTA will deploy 1.5 MW of solar via rooftop space and an overhead carport canopy at the agency’s Cerone bus yard. The solar PV is paired with a battery storage system that can store 4 MWh of usable electricity and 1 MW of peak output power to provide back-up electricity at the bus yard for up to 20 hours of emergency operations. For extended outages, VTA has the option to easily connect a temporary generator to provide additional backup power for fleet operations. The agency will also install two Proterra one-and-a-half megawatt fleet chargers to power 34 electric transit buses.
1.56 MW
Solar PV
3 MW
Microgrid Fleet Chargers
34
Electric buses
