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Originally published June 2015

A Building Scale DC Microgrid

Robert Bosch LLC is developing a direct current (DC) microgrid
in a Honda parts distribution center that will connect solar arrays

to DC-based energy storage and loads.

BY NICOLE PAJER
OBERT BOSCH LLC may soon
be changing the solar energy
game. In February 2015, the
California Energy Commission
announced a $2.8 million grant
Raward to the Farmington Hills,
MI-based company to demonstrate a high-
penetration, renewable microgrid.
With the grant money, Bosch will procure
and install its newly developed direct current
(DC) building-scale microgrid platform in
the American Honda Motor Company parts
distribution center in California.
“The project involves incorporating
a solar photovoltaic (PV) array on the
rooftop and connecting it directly to
lighting, ventilation and other major
electrical loads in the facility on a direct
current bus,” explains John Saussele,
project director, building grid technologies
at Robert Bosch LLC. “We will convert the
lighting and the ventilation within the
building to operate on direct current and
will add a large amount of battery storage
capacity, in order to demonstrate the
advantages of a DC connection between
all these devices and the PV array.” Such
advantages include improved energy
efficiency when utilizing renewable
sources, higher reliability and the ability
to operate during a blackout. CREDIT: JOSEPHINE SKINNER
The DC microgrid project is slated to
commence development in 2016. In the
meantime, Bosch is working on other Grid Compatible. One of the goals of Bosch’s DC microgrid project is to demonstrate onsite
demonstration projects. solar energy that doesn’t negatively impact the utility grid.
“We are currently in the process of in North Carolina and should have that MULTIPLE BENEFITS
completing another project that we won completed in the next month or so.” Another Bosch’s project at the Honda facility will
in 2012 from the Department of Defense,” installation, completed last year at a facility showcase the company’s next-generation
says Sharmila Ravula, director, business owned by Livingston & Haven, a Bosch advanced microgrid technology, one that
development at Robert Bosch LLC. “We are partner, also connects solar to lighting and will include having solar and energy storage
installing our DC microgrid at Fort Bragg ventilation on a DC bus. all connected to loads within the facility.

8 FAST FORWARD TO A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE