Electrical contractor Sprig Electric, is pairing with the Tesla Powerpack commercial battery division. Sprig Electric is among the first electrical contractors in the nation to pair Tesla’s Powerpack battery with a 350 kW commercial rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system to optimize energy savings. The pairing, installed by Sprig Electric at their corporate headquarters in San Jose, will cut the building’s total energy costs by 80-95%.
Image courtesy Sprig Electric
The system includes 1,177 solar panels. Moreover, they cover 20,000 square feet of the building’s rooftop. Sprig Electric installed the 500 kWh/250 kW Tesla Powerpack battery system in their parking lot. It connects to both the grid and the PV system. Additionally, it has five 100 kW Powerpack commercial batteries. The system includes a 250 kW inverter and a DC combiner. Its footprint is about 10 by 16 feet.
Powerpack System
The Powerpack system maximizes on-site solar power use. Moreover, it avoids peak electrical charges. It allows energy purchases when rates are lowest. Additionally, it acts as an energy storage system for both grid power and the photovoltaic system. This greatly boosts the utility cost savings from using solar electricity alone. Therefore, Sprig Electric can cut utility bills by 80–95%.
Customers can use stored electricity to reduce peak demand. Moreover, the batteries charge during low-demand periods when surplus energy is available. They then discharge stored power when demand and rates are high. This approach provides extra savings. Additionally, it lowers the utility bill even further.
Sprig Electric HQ
The installation at Sprig Electric headquarters uses a sophisticated control system. Moreover, it monitors building loads, solar panel production, and stored battery power. It then shifts power around as needed based on these conditions. Additionally, the recently commissioned combo PV and battery storage system delivered strong early results. In the first eight wintery days, it generated 6.7 MWh of energy. Therefore, it saved 4.94 tons of carbon dioxide.
“We feel extremely happy with how this combo solar system performed in its first week,” says Michael Clifton, engineering and operations manager for Sprig Electric’s Energy Efficiency Division. Moreover, he explains they plan to track this unique system’s metrics. “We want to provide alternative energy solutions for our clients and partners alike. Additionally, we believe the market for battery storage will really take off in the coming years.” He notes that both rebates and tax credits are available for buying the battery system.
Lithium Ion Powerpack
The Powerpack uses lithium-ion battery technology. Moreover, its modular design comes from the technology in Tesla’s electric cars. It is a scalable system. Additionally, users can expand it by connecting more Powerpacks and inverters up to hundreds of megawatts.
Clifton says Sprig Electric chose the Tesla Powerpack for its proven battery technology. “Tesla leads in their battery technology,” says Clifton. Moreover, he highlights their sophisticated cooling system. It keeps the batteries at even temperatures. Additionally, their batteries are compact, given the energy inside. “We did look at other manufacturers,” he says. “However, most of them are still in the developmental stage.”
Sprig Electric is a full-service electrical and data contractor that designs and installs electrical, data/communications, and fire alarm systems. The Sprig Electric Energy Solution Division specializes in the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage systems.
For more information on the Tesla Powerwall
