Saft has been awarded a contract from Tri-Technic, Inc. for the delivery of two Intensium Max 20M (IM20M) battery containers to power the Fort Hunter Liggett grid energy storage system.
The Fort Hunter Liggett energy storage unit was designated as a “Net Zero” pilot installation by the Department of Defense (DOD), which signifies that it will only consume as much energy as it produces. The battery system will store energy for later use when the base’s solar power field generates more electricity than demand. Tri-Technic selected Saft as part of its contract with the US Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District to provide the base with a 1.25 MW battery energy storage system.
The contract marks Saft’s first large battery energy storage system (BESS) installed in a DOD facility. As part of its ongoing objective to conserve resources, Fort Hunter Liggett is planning to install a third solar photovoltaic unit in 2014.
The 1 MW solar system will be responsible for approximately one-third of the energy provided to the base and will aid the base in continuing its dedication to efficiency through solar power. In addition to the contract with Saft for the supply of batteries, Tri-Technic also engaged Siemens to provide smart inverters to support the microgrid controls.
Saft’s two Intensium Max 20M containers are each rated at 500 kWh and connected to the grid through two 630 kW Clean Power Converters, which ensures that the energy source is able to operate at optimum levels while maintaining power in the event of a utility power outage.
The project construction began in August 2013 and is scheduled for completion in February 2014. Tri-Technic is the prime contractor for this project, specializing in system integration and electrical construction and was responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, delivery, installation and commissioning of the entire Fort Hunter Liggett microgrid.
