Sunnova’s groundbreaking community microgrid proposal is fighting back against a motion to dismiss, from major utility companies who must feel their business plan is being attacked.
John Fitzgerald Weaver writes in PV Magazine that Sunnova is pushing back against a motion by major utility companies to dismiss its groundbreaking community microgrid proposal in California.
In September, Sunnova submitted a proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), requesting that its newly formed subsidiary, Sunnova Community Microgrids California (SCMC), fully own and operate microgrids of 500 to 2,000 new homes in the California market.
All three of California’s large, for-profit utilities oppose the proposal. The Public Advocate’s Office of California has suggested the proposal be dismissed, as the group would like to complete its own microgrid standards development.
The proposal is partially based upon the definition of an “electric microutility,” as per Section 2780 of California’s Public Utility Code, which defines a microutiliy as: Any electrical corporation that is regulated by the commission and organized for the purpose of providing sole-source renewable and stand-by generation, distribution, and sale of electricity exclusively to a customer base of fewer than 2,000 customers.”
Sunnova’s original filing is based on a simulation of a proposed 500-customer community by SCMC. The average home size of 2,300 sq feet would require a 7 kW solar system and a battery with two 5-10 kWh batteries. The community would build an additional 300 kW solar plant and have a local standalone battery of approximately 2 MWh. The plan includes a backup generator with a capacity of 2 MW.
SCMC estimates the installation would cost up to $10 million and would experience less than 30 minutes of annual downtime, and be capable of supplying power in isolation for over 300 hours if the broader grid went down. Participating homes would receive approximately 82% of their electricity from the microgrid.
The California Public Advocacy Office, which has been engaged in developing its own microgrid rules for the state since 2020, filed a request for Sunnova’s proposal to be dismissed. Sunnova filed a response to the dismissal. The Center for Biological Diversity and several other organizations have come out in support of SCMC.
Read the full article in PV Magazine.