The Challenge

A college in Madison, Wisconsin, aimed to reduce electricity costs and improve energy resilience for one of its campus buildings. The facility experiences a consistent daytime load profile and operates under a demand-based commercial tariff structure, presenting a strong opportunity for cost savings through energy storage. 

Ethos Green Power Cooperative, the project developer and installer, needed an energy management system that could autonomously dispatch storage based on real-time site conditions while maintaining accurate control, stable hardware integration, and long-term reliability. The project required seamless coordination between the on-site solar PV system and the selected battery hardware. Precise metering and reliable communication with the EMS were essential to support an effective dispatch strategy and ensure dependable performance. 

The Solution

Ethos selected Energy Toolbase’s ETB Controller powered by Acumen AI™ to control the project’s solar and storage assets. The 181 kW PV array and the 180 kW/ 414 kWh battery system were configured for Dynamic Economic Dispatch, which continuously evaluates site load, solar production, and utility billing periods to determine the most cost-effective charge and discharge strategy. This strategy helps reduce monthly electricity costs and improve the economic performance of the facility. 

The system includes three Sol-Ark L3 60 kW hybrid inverters paired with two Discover AES 210HV outdoor-rated battery units, each providing 212 kWh of commercial-grade storage. ETB Controller uses Sol-Ark’s certified closed-loop communication protocol to maintain accurate charge control and stable inverter battery interaction, supporting reliable and consistent site-level operation. Energy Toolbase provided a UL508A-listed ETB Control Center that includes an industrial computer, networking switch, UPS, and a NEMA 4 enclosure. An external revenue grade metering kit with an eGauge 4015 meter and current transformers supplies accurate data to support economic dispatch.  

Authorized stakeholders can view real-time system data through ETB Monitor, Energy Toolbase’s online monitoring platform, which provides visibility into production, storage activity, operational status, and long-term performance. Maintaining accurate configuration information within ETB Monitor helps ensure precise economic calculations and dependable EMS behavior.