Clean Energy and Grid Resilience
CREL is leading clean energy education, training, and community outreach opportunities in renewable-energy powered microgrids, agrivoltaics, cybersecurity, and battery storage.
- Microgrid Demonstration Projects: Developing renewable-powered microgrids to support student learning, research, and workforce training in real-world conditions.
- Agrivoltaics & Regenerative Farming: Promoting the co-benefits and workforce opportunities of agrivoltaic projects, integrating solar energy with agriculture, to support academic programs and local farming communities.
- Cybersecurity for Energy Systems: Responding to the need for increased training in cybersecurity of physical energy systems and industrial controls to increase resiliency of renewable energy systems.
- Clean Energy Workforce & Academic Pathways: Supporting academic programs aligned with industry needs in areas like battery storage, building automation, and cybersecurity, while supporting K-14 student academies, and community learning.
Demonstration Projects Showcasing Energy Innovations
Renewable Energy-Powered Microgrid at the Weill Institute
Integrates a battery energy storage system, microgrid controller, and photovoltaic system located at the Weill Institute, the headquarters for Kern Community College District. The Weill Institute serves as a living laboratory, hosting a data collection system and visualization dashboard. The microgrid system allows energy time shifting, load balancing, and creates opportunities for cost savings.
The data visualization dashboard allows educators and students to analyze energy systems,
dispatch strategies for energy and savings optimizations, and get hands-on experience
with energy data.
Project Partners
Agrivoltaics at Bakersfield College’s Delano Campus
First of its kind technology showcase at a community college - integrating solar energy power with agricultural production for teaching and research. A single-axis tracking solar array and a battery storage system designed to charge electric farming equipment is at the Delano Campus. This innovative project will serve as a test plot for agrivoltaic applications to showcase the potential for dual use of solar and agriculture, focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency in agriculture.
Project Partners
Advancing Microgrid Solutions in Higher Education
CREL is supporting renewable energy-powered microgrid development at five California community colleges: Ventura, Glendale, Palomar, Marin, and Contra Costa through targeted technical assistance. Launched in February 2025, the initiative connects NREL researchers with campus leaders to conduct advanced techno-economic analyses, pinpointing the ideal combination of solar, battery storage, and electrification technologies to optimize cost savings, enhance resilience, and reduce emissions. This effort directly supports California’s statewide climate goals and advances the California Community Colleges’ Vision 2030 commitment to campus resiliency and sustainability.
Project Partners