Solar

We helped CFES stakeholders define the project goals, constraints, and drivers. Next, we performed a preliminary solar economic analysis and a regulatory review, which suggested that CFES could generate positive cash flow through several types of potential installations financed through third-party power purchase agreements (PPA). We also identified and quantified the significant economic drivers for these projects, which included lowering CFES peak loads (both the Peak Load Contribution (PLC) for PJM and the Network Service Peak Load (NSPL) for the ATSI transmission zone), the value of the project’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), and the wholesale market value of the solar energy.

We worked with CFES to identify viable City-owned locations with a range of potential solar sizes based on available roof space, parking area, and land. Each site also had the potential to interconnect behind the facility’s meter or directly into CFES’ distribution infrastructure. Finally, we helped the CFES team develop and write an RFP that contained several options for the solar array sizing and location as well as the option to couple the solar with battery storage. We provided technical assistance during the vendor proposal review process and assisted CFES in scoring the vendor bids.

Energy Storage

First, we helped CFES stakeholders define the project goals and develop an initial understanding of BESS’ potential in their system. We investigated relevant case studies to develop a framework of understanding. This included a preliminary solar economic analysis, which highlighted how the BESS could be used to engage the market and identified the significant economic drivers of the project.

Next, we worked with CFES to create a request for information (RFI) to engage the market in answering pressing questions. The RFI focused on identifying specifics of BESS’ value creation strategies, contract structures, design considerations, and specific information needed to engage the market through a request for proposals (RFP). We provided technical assistance during the RFI response review process and helped conduct interviews with respondents.