Petaluma Case Study | Scale Microgrids

Petaluma

In recent years, utility power outages in Northern California caused by wildfires - as well as power outages called to prevent wildfires - have posed a growing challenge to Petaluma City Schools's ability to provide consistent in-person education.

Petaluma City Schools partnered with Scale Microgrids to design and build multiple microgrids that will integrate an existing solar installation with enough battery storage to provide over two full days of 100% renewable backup power. The microgrids are supported by funding from California’s Self- Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), which will help maximize the cost savings provided by these systems.

7,300+

Students

900+

Staff

Schools

831 kW

Solar PV

4.2 MWh

Battery Energy Storage

Matthew Harris, Superintendent of Petaluma City Schools says,

“We are really excited to be on the forefront of this creative and environmentally friendly method of providing backup power to our schools.

With so much uncertainty and disruption over these past years, microgrid systems can provide much needed continuity for our students when there is a power disruption.

This project also gives us an opportunity to put our values into action because it is aligned to one of our recently adopted District goals, which is to enhance the long-term sustainability of our organization, infrastructure, and operations.”

Petaluma City Schools has embraced renewable energy in the past, showing early leadership by installing solar PV systems at all of its school facilities beginning in 2003.

Now, PCS is deepening its embrace of innovative energy technology by pairing this solar with battery storage in a microgrid, ensuring their resilience during grid outages.

Petaluma City Schools Microgrids

The Petaluma School District includes: