Intelligent power management company Eaton is supplying a microgrid for the new Manchester Public Library in Connecticut, supporting reliable and cost-effective energy.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2026 and aims to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) ready status. The move empowers the Town of Manchester to strategically balance energy production and consumption while enhancing grid flexibility.
Using its Buildings as a Grid approach, Eaton will synchronize the onsite renewables, energy storage, and EV charging with local energy markets, allowing the library to better manage peak demand, support the grid, and optimize its energy usage.
Eaton will deliver electrical infrastructure, turnkey engineering services, and return on investment (ROI) modeling for the project.
“The new Manchester Public Library showcases how smart energy management can reduce costs and demand on the grid while optimizing resilience and sustainability,” said Paul Ryan, vice president and general manager of energy transition at Eaton, in a statement. “We’re confident our proven intelligent power management solutions and expertise will benefit the Town of Manchester and its residents for decades to come.”
The library will leverage 370 kilowatts (kW) of solar and battery storage to cut electricity costs while producing cleaner power. Through Eaton’s microgrid control solution and grid-interactive xStorage battery energy storage system (BESS), the library will have the ability to maximize on-site solar consumption and send excess electricity back to the grid.
Additionally, Eaton will leverage its EV charging partnership with ChargePoint to provide vehicle charging infrastructure that helps intelligently reduce costs and enhance reliability.
Steve Stephanou, town manager at the Town of Manchester, added, “Our community overwhelmingly supports our investment in this state-of-the-art library as a beacon of sustainability, innovation and education. Eaton’s forward-thinking solutions and strong relationships with the project team have been essential to turn our goal of building Connecticut’s first net-zero public library into reality.”
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