PSE to test grid resiliency technology through first utility scale solar-plus-storage microgrid project

The project is a partnership with the Department of Commerce and the Tenino School District

BELLEVUE, Wash. (8/11/2020) Puget Sound Energy has received $2.7 million in funding from the state’s Department of Commerce for a solar-plus-storage microgrid in Tenino, Washington. It will be the first system of its kind in PSE’s service territory and part of the company’s overall grid modernization efforts.

“These innovative electric grid modernization projects strengthen communities by delivering important resilience and reliability to the system while also advancing our state’s transition to a clean energy economy,” said Commerce Director Lisa Brown.

The primary installations will be an approximately 1MW/2MWh battery at Tenino’s Blumaer substation and a solar array on adjacent land. These will connect to existing solar panels at Tenino High School, PSE’s partner in this initiative. Combined, the system will form a microgrid capable of “islanding” the school and providing temporary back-up power for critical functions during an outage. Data collected from the project can also be shared to support local education initiatives and the utility industry at large.

“What we learn in Tenino could eventually be scaled and adapted to benefit other communities in ways that have never been possible before,” said PSE Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Booga Gilbertson. “Our installations will enhance service in Tenino and the surrounding area by increasing resiliency and reliability.”

The Department of Commerce is funding this project through a Clean Energy Fund competitive grant. Since 2013, the program has encouraged public-private partnerships to invest in a diverse range of projects, leading the way in electrical grid modernization.

For PSE, this project will help us create a better, cleaner energy future for all of our customers. It will also help us meet the objectives of Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act and support the development and implementation of clean, renewable, and cutting-edge energy technology in the state.

Media Contact:

Andrew Padula, 1-888-831-7250, psenewsroom@pse.com

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