As California cities seek greater energy efficiency in municipal buildings to help meet greenhouse gas reduction goals and climate action plans (CAP), it is increasingly important to develop strategies that maximize the benefits of combining solar and energy storage systems.
CSE assisted the city of Del Mar to install high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) panels and state-of-the-art energy storage equipment in a new civic center complex. The city received a $389,000 grant for a 62.5-kilowatt PV system and a 100-kWh energy storage system from the California Energy Commission under a program to demonstrate the effectiveness of these systems in municipal and commercial buildings. Data on the system’s performance will be widely distributed to help overcome adoption barriers and concerns, including return on investment, long-term energy costs and system efficiency in a coastal environment with more clouds and fog.
Program at a Glance
Program Goals
Determine if coastal cities like Del Mar can maximize the energy efficiency of municipal buildings and meet CAP goals by installing high efficiency PV panels and energy storage systems
CSE's Role
System design, request for proposal preparation, measurement and verification, education and outreach
Technologies
Key Partners
City of Del Mar, Miller Hull Architects, San Diego Gas & Electric
State Policies Supported
Senate Bill 350 (De León), Assembly Bill 802 (Williams), California Energy Commission’s Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan, City of Del Mar Climate Action Plan
Impact Statement
Heightened awareness of technologies spurring increased investments in renewable energy and energy management that will benefit the region and the state
