The Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County was the first in the country to build its own smart grid. The jail can operate as an “island” separate from the main electric grid to save money by generating its own ultra-clean and renewable electricity when power rates are highest. The jail is the third-largest facility of its kind in California and the fifth-largest in the nation.
Several energy efficiency and renewable energy projects have been implemented since 2002, including solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, a fuel cell cogeneration plant, an advanced energy storage system, and a 3,600 million British thermal units (BTU) solar hot water system.
The project includes: a 1.2 megawatt (MW) rooftop solar photovoltaic system; a 300 kilowatt (kW) solar tracking system; a 1 MW fuel cell power plant with heat recovery for facility hot water and space heating; and five 2.3 kW wind turbines.
Project funders include the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the California Public Utilities Commission. The project has also benefited from partnerships between public and private entities, including Alameda County’s General Services Agency, Chevron Energy Solutions, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the California Independent System Operator, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the University of Wisconsin.
See more information about Santa Rita Jail Smart Grid System.
Photos of aerial view and fuel cell cogeneration plant courtesy of Alameda County. Photo of solar photovoltaic system courtesy of the California Energy Commission.
Benefits
Reliable electricity for daily operations and security.
Islanding capability without the need to use emergency backup diesel generators.
Saves Alameda County approximately $100,000 per year in energy costs.
Type of Project
Smart grid, solar, wind, fuel cell, advanced energy storage, solar thermal
Status
In operation.
SEE LOCATIONS ON THE TOUR
Alta Wind Energy Center
Wind
CleanWorld Sacramento BioDigester
Anaerobic digester
Desert Sunlight Solar Farm
Solar photovoltaic
Electric Vehicles International
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The Geysers
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Helms Pumped Storage Facility
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Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System
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Playa Vista Elementary School
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Public Electric Vehicle Charging at the South Coast Air Quality Management District
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Santa Rita Jail
Smart grid/solar/wind/fuel cell/advanced energy storage/solar thermal
UC Davis West Village
Zero net energy mixed use, multi-unit housing communities