PG&E, Nissan, Fermata Energy, and the Schatz Energy Research Center Demonstrate Vehicle-to-Grid Technology in California

Press release from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E):

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Nissan, and Fermata Energy are collaborating on a first-of-its-kind demonstration of automated frequency capabilities integrating electric vehicles and bi-directional chargers with a multi-customer microgrid to provide grid support and enhance energy resilience.

PG&E, Nissan, Fermata Energy, and the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, along with the Humboldt County Aviation Division, have implemented Fermata Energy’s Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) optimization platform integrated using two previous generation model year 2020-21 Nissan LEAF vehicles equipped with CHAdeMO quick charge ports and four bidirectional FE-20 charging stations at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCAM) in McKinleyville, Calif.

“Integrating bidirectional chargers and EVs at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid is an innovative solution that will expand the capacity of the site, extending the capability for powering the airport during local grid outages and providing another clean energy resource for ensuring statewide grid stability,” said Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnerships and Innovation, PG&E. “The project showcases innovative Vehicle-to-Microgrid (V2M) technologies and demonstrates how EVs can support local energy needs and grid resilience.”
RCAM is jointly operated by PG&E and the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Humboldt County’s local energy provider. The capacity and capabilities of the microgrid are enhanced to enable the advanced automated grid frequency response demonstration of Fermata Energy’s V2X platform, an important part of PG&E’s grid resilience efforts and an industry-first accomplishment.

“At Fermata Energy, we see a real opportunity to transform electric vehicles from simple modes of transportation into critical energy assets. By integrating our intelligent V2X platform and bidirectional chargers, we are delivering measurable cost savings, valuable grid services and enhanced local energy resilience. This pilot provides a scalable blueprint for communities, fleets, and utilities to harness EVs as distributed energy resources, accelerating the transition to a cleaner and more reliable grid in California and beyond,” said Hamza Lemsaddek, Chief Operating Officer of Fermata Energy.