The Challenge

A large scale commercial, industrial, and utility-scale solar and energy storage developer, was engaged by its customer, a satellite communications provider, to develop energy storage solutions for two remote mountaintop facilities on O’ahu’s North Shore. The objective was to deploy energy storage to maximize solar production value and meet the requirements to participate in the utility’s Battery Bonus and Power Move programs. With no compensation for exported energy under the Standard Interconnection Agreement tariff, on-site storage and peak-period dispatch were critical to achieving meaningful project returns. 

The remote location of each site introduced unique logistical and operational challenges since both facilities were only accessible by narrow mountain roads with a 10,000-pound axle limit, far below the 60,000-pound weight of a fully assembled Tesla Megapack. This required each unit to be completely disassembled, transported in pieces using a fleet of box trucks, and reassembled on site. Both systems needed to be commissioned by a fixed utility deadline to qualify for program incentives. Fluctuating site loads from satellite operations and unpredictable weather added further uncertainty to commissioning and dispatch planning.  

The Solution

To address these complexities and ensure compliance with program requirements, the developer turned to Energy Toolbase. Having modeled projects in ETB Developer since 2017, the team knew they could rely on Energy Toolbase to deliver a flexible, intelligent solution tailored to the project’s demands. Energy Toolbase helped deploy two Tesla Megapack 2 systems at both sites for a combined storage capacity of 897 kW / 3,591 kWh. Each system was integrated with the existing PV array and is managed by ETB Controller, powered by Acumen AI®, to enable real-time, intelligent dispatch in accordance with Hawaiian Electric’s grid services programs. To ensure compliance with the Battery Bonus and Power Move dispatch windows, ETB Controller was configured for scheduled dispatch, with Acumen AI’s adaptive control strategies customized to each facility’s unique load profile and solar production. Despite weather variability and fluctuating demand, both systems reliably meet their daily dispatch commitments of 150 kW and 250 kW during the utility’s designated 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. peak window. The systems were also configured to prioritize solar self-consumption by charging from excess PV generation that would otherwise be exported without compensation.

Overcoming the delivery challenge required a first-of-its-kind coordination effort. Tesla completed its first-ever full off-site depopulation and field-based repopulation of Megapack systems, working closely with with the developer and Energy Toolbase to transport and reassemble battery modules onsite, showcasing exceptional logistical planning and cross-team execution. Both systems were commissioned ahead of the utility deadline, securing full program incentives for the customer. Following deployment, the customer extended participation hours, further increasing long-term project value. Today, both sites dispatch stored energy daily with full visibility provided through ETB Monitor, which enables performance tracking, compliance, and long-term optimization.