AlphaStruxure, a provider of Energy as a Service (EaaS) solutions, has won a contract to deploy an integrated microgrid and electric bus charging infrastructure project for Montgomery County, Maryland. The project will enable transit operator Ride On Montgomery County to convert at least 44 buses from diesel to electric power.

AlphaStruxure, a joint venture of Schneider Electric and the Carlyle Global Infrastructure Opportunity Fund, will design, own and operate the project, located at the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot. The system is designed to ensure uninterrupted bus service during any long-term power outages caused by severe weather, or by short-term issues with the utility grid, and also to avoid utility demand charges and time-of-use tariffs. The Energy as a Service approach will eliminate upfront cost to the county, and provide long-term cost predictability for the project’s energy supply.

The Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot will use Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure platform, including its microgrid controllers and electrical distribution equipment. The project integrates PV canopies designed and built by SunPower, battery energy storage from Dynapower, charging and energy management software from The Mobility House, and chargers from Heliox.

“This advanced infrastructure project drives forward several of our priorities—converting our fleets to electric, reducing harmful emissions, and ensuring safety and security,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “This project will also improve the county’s resilience, so we can continue providing transportation services even in the event of prolonged power outages.”

“The Smart Energy Bus Depot project provides a national model for local governments, transit agencies, and the private sector looking to electrify their fleets,” said Montgomery County Department of General Services Director David Dise. “Rather than buying the microgrid and charging infrastructure outright, the county partnered with AlphaStruxure, who builds, owns, operates and maintains the system. The county then purchases the electricity on an ongoing basis. This model delivers the supporting infrastructure required to electrify our bus fleet, customized to our specific needs, at no upfront cost.”

“The availability of sustainable and resilient electricity often poses a major barrier to organizations seeking to migrate fleets off of fossil fuels,” said AlphaStruxure CEO Juan Macias. “AlphaStruxure serves as the comprehensive partner for fleet electrification. We’re taking the capital cost, complexity and risk out of electrification for Montgomery County through a powerful integration of technical, financial and contractual solutions.”

Source: AlphaStruxure