Iron-sodium battery energy storage system maker Inlyte Energy, an iron-sodium battery energy storage system maker, will install a first-of-its-kind resilience-focused battery at Alliance Redwoods Conference Grounds in Sonoma County, California. Developed in collaboration with Vital Energy Solutions, the project will lower facility electricity costs, improve wildfire resilience for a critical evacuation zone, and offer a long-duration backup power option without the need for diesel. An award of $4.1 million from the Critical Facility Energy Resilience program from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity is helping to fund the project. The project partners, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories and Electric Power Research Institute, will collaborate to execute a third-party validation of the project’s performance.
“With power outages growing more severe, Inlyte’s iron-sodium batteries deliver resilient and affordable energy storage where communities need it most,” stated Ben Kaun, Inlyte Chief Commercial Officer. “This project demonstrates our mission in action.”
This project is ideally suited for Inlyte’s locally produced, non-flammable battery solution, which maintains performance at high ambient temperatures. Inlyte’s 200 kW/ 4 MWh battery system is anticipated to save Alliance Redwoods up to $300,000 in power expenses annually when combined with the facility’s proposed 570 kW solar array. Additionally, it will offer emergency backup for up to two weeks, enabling Alliance Redwoods to gradually wean itself off of diesel generators and lessen noise and air pollution in the area.
“Customers are demanding safe, scalable, and low-cost energy storage,” stated Antonio Baclig, CEO of Inlyte Energy. “Our domestically manufactured iron-sodium battery delivers on all fronts, and we are proud to be creating a more resilient and secure energy future in the U.S.”
Alliance Redwoods, a crucial resilience site in Occidental, is situated in a Tier 3 High Fire Threat Zone and functions as a community evacuation center and, if required, a staging area for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Additionally, Russian River Utility’s adjacent water pump station will get backup power from the project, which is crucial for firefighting and public water delivery.
“This project is a game-changer for our camp and our community. With Inlyte’s battery and our solar array, we can operate independently from the grid during outages at a greatly reduced cost,” stated Mike Dethlefsen, Board Member at Alliance Redwoods. “Crucially, it ensures we can remain operational to serve our community and power other critical local infrastructure when the grid goes down.”
Sonoma County-based Vital Energy will manage project development, engineering, and construction, serving as the lead integrator for the microgrid and Inlyte’s iron-sodium battery. The project is scheduled to be operational in 2027.
“Our customers in high fire-risk areas such as Sonoma County need microgrid solutions that deliver both resilience and savings without compromising on fire safety,” stated Akshay Pagare, Project Developer at Vital Energy. “This project will have a tremendous impact on the local community and become a flagship project for other at-risk areas.”
The Alliance Redwoods project will serve as a replicable model for communities and critical facilities seeking to improve energy resilience, ensure public safety, and reduce operational costs with domestically manufactured solutions.
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