08
Jul
Schools Category Content
Saving Money for Your School is Elementary with SimpliPhi
SimpliPhi has expertise working with schools worldwide for both on- and off-grid energy storage and management solutions. Schools seek out PHI batteries because they offer a safer, non-toxic lithium ion alternative that doesn’t put students or academic facilities at risk. Our small, scalable footprint does not require cooling or ventilation, allowing storage to be installed in tight indoor or outdoor locations on campuses where space and safety are at a premium.
Featured Deployment
Waialua High & Intermediate students on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu return to school this year to solar & energy storage-powered air conditioned classrooms.
Schools FAQ:
How can storage help schools save money on utility bills?
School districts can achieve significant cost savings when they install energy storage to offset peak usage. This “peak shaving” capitalizes on schools’ predictable electrical load profile, where usage peaks during mid-day and drops when students and faculty head home. With energy storage, batteries can charge during off-peak hours and discharge to offset energy use during these peak times. As a result, schools are able to avoid spikes in energy use and high demand charges that can account for more than 50% of their electric bill and save them hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. We’re thrilled to help our education partners pay less for electricity and preserve more financial resources for their education budget.
How can solar+storage take the place of school infrastructure upgrades?
Whether a school district is seeking to upgrade heating and cooling systems or make comprehensive energy efficiency improvements, the price tag can be daunting. Did you know that in many cases, installing a solar+storage microgrid to power new equipment can prove far less costly than funding comprehensive infrastructure upgrades normally required to power such new equipment?
For example, in 2016, in response to a $1.6 billion campus statewide air conditioning installation budget shortfall, the Hawaii Department of Education found a game-changing solution in microgrids. The capital cost of implementing roof-top PV+SimpliPhi storage microgrids together with split system A/C units to cool classrooms proved to be substantially lower than traditional grid-tied central air conditioning systems. This approach reduced the budget to $140 million. Plus, having on-site energy storage and flexibility in programming the power electronics allowed schools to keep their current energy costs and energy access stable while maintaining grid-connection for backup power.
Are Lithium Ion Batteries Safe for Schools?
Not all lithium ion batteries are the same. In fact, there are a variety of different lithium ion chemistries.
Many lithium ion batteries contain cobalt. Cobalt is the element responsible for thermal runaway, fires and overheating that have been reported in homes, businesses, on airplanes, laptops, cellphones and hover boards and even in utility-scale installations. Cobalt is toxic, unstable and hazardous.
SimpliPhi does not use cobalt. Our lithium ion chemistry is lithium ferrous phosphate (LFP). LFP is environmentally benign, does not pose a danger of thermal runaway and is non-toxic.
What if our school doesn’t have space for an installation of batteries?
We bet you do! SimpliPhi batteries have a very small footprint, and because they require no ventilation or ancillary cooling or monitoring equipment, they can be installed in very tight, closed spaces. In addition, because the batteries can operate safely in temperatures from -4° to 140°F, SimpliPhi batteries can be installed indoors or outdoors, depending on the ideal location in each building or campus.
