California State University, Long Beach
IN-27: Innovation D

In 2016, CSULB became the first campus in the California State University (CSU) system to install an energy storage system. In partnership with Advanced Microgrid Systems (AMS), the CSU kicked off a project to install a portfolio of Hybrid Electric Building, which will substantially reduce energy costs, in addition to providing critical support to the largest battery storage project at an educational institution in the nation. The first phase, which includes the 1,000kW/2,000kWh battery storage system at CSULB, will reduce the CSU's electric utility costs by roughly $3.3 million, storing enough energy to power 2,000 homes. The goal of the project is to shift buildings to the energy storage system to reduce grid congestion and ease the need for additional power plants. Construction began during the winter of 2016 and the system is now fully operational. The guiding principle behind the new battery energy storage system is the campus Climate Action Plan which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated by campus operations and activities to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. The industrial-type battery system, a lithium-ion-based battery much like those in electric vehicles, is capable of storing energy and dispatching it whenever it is needed to reduce the demand, also reducing electrical consumption from the power grid.