Nov 25, 2020   SOURCE: BusinessWire

PowerFlex Completes EV Charging System for Buck Institute for Research on Aging

PowerFlex-an EDF Renewables Company completed the installation of 49 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. The EV chargers provide Buck employees with a reliable way to secure a fully charged battery during the workday with a sustainable source of energy from the onsite solar system.

The EV charging system uses PowerFlex’s Adaptive Load Management (ALM) technology. This patented technology, developed out of Caltech, maximizes the delivery of power to electric vehicles while reducing or eliminating the need for costly utility upgrades by managing charging dependent upon driver’s demand, building load, and onsite generation. The PowerFlex ALM enables the site to more than double the number of charging ports compared to a typical circuit-sharing method.

The smart EV charging platform is designed to flatten charging consumption and shift the consumption into the middle of the day to align with solar production. The integrated system is tailored to the facility’s energy characteristics, turning the solar carport and EV charging stations into a sustainable clean energy asset that reduces operational energy costs with no up-front capital costs.

According to Max Wilcox, Business Development Manager for PowerFlex, “It takes an innovative client like the Buck to push the boundaries of scalability and power management to build for the future of electric vehicles. We are pleased to build upon our relationship to help Buck meet their energy and EV charging needs in a sustainable way.”

“As a scientist who is fully invested in promoting and utilizing electric vehicles whenever and wherever possible, it’s really rewarding to have this EV charging system fully operational on our campus,” said Buck professor Simon Melov, PhD. “Doing our part to address climate change and support a healthier environment definitely supports the Buck’s efforts to help people live better longer. Kudos to PowerFlex for bringing their cutting-edge technology to our campus.”

In 2016, EDFR built a 1.11 MWp solar carport system on a 4-acre upper parking lot at the Buck whereby the energy generated is delivered to MCE customers including the Buck Institute. The project marked the largest solar PV facility in Marin County at the time allowing Buck to forge a partnership with EDFR and be part of the solution to reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.

PowerFlex is a part of EDF Renewables North America, a market leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise in renewable energy. The Distributed Solutions group offers on-site clean energy for office buildings, load serving entities, corporates and industrials. The company delivers solar, storage and electric vehicle charging stations as separate products or combined as a full microgrid offering.

Buck Institute EV Charger System Video: https://youtu.be/cCr4MPbGz64

About PowerFlex:

Founded in 2007, PowerFlex delivers turn-key solutions for workplace electric vehicle charging solutions, from startups and high schools to Fortune Global 500 companies. The company has deployed over 2,000 charging stations across California providing customers with large-scale EV charging at lower cost. PowerFlex Systems’ Adaptive Load Management (ALM), a software algorithm that optimizes power consumption across a large network of charging stations, optimizes each station’s output to meet user demand while only using a fraction of the aggregate power traditionally required. This allows businesses to shave as much as 60% off the cost of electrical system upgrades and peak demand charges, paving the way to larger and more affordable charging networks that ultimately meet or exceed the adoption pace of electric vehicles. PowerFlex Systems was acquired by EDF Renewables North America in 2019.

EDF Renewables North America is a market leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise in renewable energy. The Company delivers grid-scale power: wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic, and storage projects; distributed solutions: solar, solar+storage, EV charging and energy management; and asset optimization: technical, operational, and commercial skills to maximize performance of generating projects. EDF Renewables’ North American portfolio consists of 16 GW of developed projects and 11 GW under service contracts. EDF Renewables North America is a subsidiary of EDF Renouvelables, the dedicated renewable energy affiliate of the EDF Group. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About the Buck Institute for Research on Aging:

At the Buck, we aim to end the threat of age-related diseases for this and future generations. We bring together the most capable and passionate scientists from a broad range of disciplines to study mechanisms of aging and to identify therapeutics that slow down aging. Our goal is to increase human health span, or the healthy years of life. Located just north of San Francisco, we are globally recognized as the pioneer and leader in efforts to target aging, the number one risk factor for serious diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, macular degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes. The Buck wants to help people live better longer. Our success will ultimately change healthcare. Learn more at: https://buckinstitute.org