Kaiser Permanente unveils 2 MW hospital microgrid in California

Kaiser Permanente, a US-based healthcare provider, has launched a renewable energy microgrid at its Ontario Medical Center in Southern California. The system has included 2 MW of solar, a 9 MWh non-lithium battery, and a 1 MW fuel cell, and is designed to support operations and provide emergency backup for up to 10 hours. According to Kaiser Permanente, the microgrid is expected to generate 3,300 MWh annually and has the potential to offset 650 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. An automated control system has been installed to manage energy use based on real-time grid pricing. Ameresco has installed the solar canopies under a PPA. Faraday Microgrids has developed the battery component, which was funded by $8.3 million from the California Energy Commission. The project is aligned with Kaiser Permanente’s 2050 net-zero goal.