Brookville Bus Depot Microgrid

Substantial completion and beginning of operations for the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot microgrid for AlphaStruxure and Montgomery County in Brookville, Maryland was achieved October 2022.

The Brookville microgrid will power the County’s electric buses with 75+ DC fast chargers on bus-height photovoltaic solar canopies, energy storage, and natural gas generators which will combine for 4.14 megawatts (MW) of charging capacity and can deliver uninterrupted power to the County’s electric bus services during emergencies and multi-day grid outages. The County’s growing number of electric buses and this facility are part of their goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2035.  

“Montgomery County and AlphaStruxure are leading the way in developing this highly advanced electric vehicle microgrid, and Mortenson is proud to be partnering with them to bring the project to life. The collaboration across our organizations has been second to none which is seen in both the project results and how our teams have enjoyed working together,” said Brian Abeld, Mortenson’s Vice President and General Manager for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. “The Brookville microgrid is setting the standard for future of resilient and renewable transportation infrastructure.” 

The project began in late 2020 and completed with zero injuries or impacts to the facility’s operations. Throughout construction, a tightly coordinated disruption avoidance approach, including 19 separate phases, ensured the bus depot could remain active.   

AlphaStruxure delivered the microgrid to Montgomery County using an Energy-as-a-Service model, where the project was delivered with no upfront cost and guaranteed performance to the County. AlphaStruxure and Mortenson have been selected for the second phase of the project, which includes adding additional chargers and natural gas generators. 

As the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor, Mortenson closely coordinated with all stakeholders to ensure alignment and clarity for the project that will allow 44 buses to transition from diesel to electric. Mortenson brought engineering and construction experience in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, utility interconnection, energy storage, solar, power delivery solutions. The project also supported economic development in the region by creating more than 50 construction jobs.

Ride On’s bus depot is responsible for the operations, maintenance, and parking for the service’s bus fleet. The microgrid provides the depot with a sustainable, resilient, and reliable energy supply for electric bus charging and facility operations. Additionally, the facility’s microgrid capabilities enable the facility to avoid utility demand charges and time-of-use tariffs.