Gonzales Electric Authority enters into agreement with Concentric Power for 35 MW microgrid solar project

Concentric Power Inc., an energy technology company deploying intelligent microgrids throughout California, and Gonzales Electric Authority (GEA), established by the City of Gonzales to oversee its new municipal electric utility, have executed an Energy Services Agreement (ESA) to deliver wholesale electric power via a community-scale microgrid in and around the Gonzales Agricultural Industrial Business Park.

Concentric Power designed the intelligent microgrid to integrate a mix of 14.5 MW-AC of solar energy, 10 MW/27.5MWh of battery energy storage, and 10 MW of flexible thermal generation, all of which will be managed by the company’s Advanced Microgrid Controller.

The US$70 million project will be funded primarily by Concentric Power, with supplemental funding from GEA and the Gonzales Municipal Electric Utility (GMEU) towards ownership of the distribution infrastructure. Concentric Power will develop, design, build, operate, and maintain the microgrid assets, including both generation and distribution. The distribution assets will be transferred to GMEU. The initial term of the ESA is 30 years, and the project is expected to break ground in mid-2021 and be ready for service in 2022.