Net zero energy efficiency at “an unprecedented rate of affordability?” Well, that’s what the first private commercial micro-grid project of its kind in California, known as 2500 R Street, promises to deliver.
The project will install a new home energy appliance, called the Sunverge Solar Integration System (SIS) in a 34 single-family home LEED Platinum housing project in Sacramento, California, with the goal of reducing homeowner bills and increasing the amount of renewable energy available to utility companies during peak load times.
In keeping with the smart-grid model, the Sunverge SIS system is engineered to enable communication between consumers and utilities, triggering automatic adjustments in both supply and demand that reportedly save money on both sides.
Additionally, data accessible throughout the networked grid is expected to hopefully improve the quality, responsiveness, reliability, efficiency and scalability of solar power for households and utilities.
By storing excess solar power in batteries on site, it is envisioned more of a household’s total power needs can be met by solar.
“In powering a typical residence, a traditional photovoltaic system saves 30 to 50 percent in annual energy costs,” explained Ken Munson, President of Sunverge Energy.
“A Sunverge SIS meets the same demand at annual savings of 50 to 70 percent.”
He goes on to note that the Sunverge system also makes for lower costs of adoption and greater annual savings with solar power.
2500 R Street is being developed by Pacific Housing Inc., the California affordable housing nonprofit that selected Sunverge as the primary renewable energy technology partner for this community project. Groundbreaking is anticipated for May 2011.
* Susan DeFreitas, EarthTechling
