June 12, 2024
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Franklin-McKinley Elementary School in San Jose, CA, are collaborating on an innovative microgrid resiliency hub as part of the school’s electrification initiative. Once completed, the microgrid will power Franklin-McKinley’s new electric school bus fleet using solar energy, serve as a resilience hub during power outages, and significantly reduce energy costs.
This groundbreaking project is funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) under its commitment to advancing sustainable and resilient energy systems. The initiative is part of LBNL’s broader effort to design electrification solutions that benefit both communities and the environment. More details about the project can be found on the Energize Innovation website.
Microgrid Labs (MGL) is playing a key role in this effort, bringing its expertise in electric fleet design and modeling to optimize the school bus charging infrastructure. Heila Technologies is contributing advanced control systems to ensure seamless integration between the solar energy system, energy storage, and bus charging operations, creating a highly efficient and resilient microgrid.
This partnership highlights the potential of electrified transportation combined with renewable energy to reduce emissions, improve cost efficiency, and enhance community resilience. Franklin-McKinley Elementary is setting a powerful example for other schools and communities nationwide by demonstrating the transformative potential of clean energy and sustainable transportation.