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To help reach its goal for zero carbon emissions by 2035, Montgomery County, Maryland has embarked on a program to electrify its bus fleet by integrating a renewable energy plus battery storage microgrid for resilient vehicle charging. The Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot will enable a 62 percent carbon emissions reduction and a lifetime greenhouse gas benefit of 160,000 tons for the bus fleet powered by the microgrid. The county is already a leader in microgrids, creating prototype Energy as a Service (EaaS) contracts and development procedures for local governments to study and use.
For the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot, AlphaStruxure engaged Arup’s engineering capabilities to upgrade the existing bus facility's site infrastructure for vehicle electrification and connect all components for microgrid operations. The 6.5 MW microgrid includes bus-height solar canopies, on-site energy generation, battery energy storage, and over 4.14 MW of charging capacity. In addition to microgrid equipment and bus chargers, the system also includes 2 MW of photovoltaic panels on an overhead canopy, battery energy storage system (BESS) and on-site energy generators to achieve 100% resilience to severe weather and grid outages. Microgrid interconnectivity is a complex enterprise, and the transition of bus fleets from diesel to electric requires uninterrupted service. While the tools and products exist to build microgrids for bus fleet electrification, knowledge of this nascent industry, awareness of the rapid changes within the market, and coordination among the various vendors are critical for successful microgrid design and operations.
Project Summary
62% carbon emissions reduction from buses charged by the microgrid
160,000 tonlifetime greenhouse gas benefit
70electric bus fleet
With the emerging transition to battery electric buses, each site, region, and transit agency has its own unique requirements, demanding custom, highly coordinated solutions for microgrids. Arup was able to draw on a multidisciplinary engineering team experienced in infrastructure and fleet electrification to engineer a solution for Brookville that optimizes operations and adapts to the challenging site conditions. In addition to providing microgrid electrical design, Arup’s services also included site civil engineering for stormwater compliance and permitting, structural and geotechnical engineering to support equipment on the constrained site, plumbing engineering for generator connections, microgrid power studies, and utility coordination, including interconnection agreements.
Adapting the site for electrification
Working with an active bus fleet facility that will remain operational during construction, Arup's team quickly pivoted to adapt the design to existing conditions and site constraints. This included coordination of existing stormwater management facilities, implementation of equipment structures to reduce the loss of bus parking spaces and working closely with the photovoltaic design team for maximum conduit and trenching efficiency across the site. Adjacent to Meadowbrook Park and Rock Creek stream, it was important to minimize site changes that would reduce existing permeable green space. A steel deck structure on helical piers was designed to hold the 70 ton BESS container, and a gabion wall solution was utilized to level an existing sloped portion of the parking area for the generators.
Sustainable, resilient electrification
Arup was able to bring its previous experience with bus electrification infrastructure, energy storage and renewable energy systems to the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot. The on-site generation components provide resilience and reliability to ensure that there will be uninterrupted charging availability for the bus fleet at all hours. Additionally, the microgrid controls will allow multiple operational modes, so the operators can switch between island-mode and grid connectivity. For example, if there are period when the battery is depleted or the local electric utility grid is down or generating equipment has maintenance being completed, there are always additional modes to ensure the required fleet vehicles can be charged.
A challenge for electrifying bus fleets is the rapid flux of manufacturers, vendors and products in the market, which was further exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic supply chain interruptions. Arup was able to respond to equipment changes than those originally selected, which will result in improved microgrid performance and increased flexibility to meet future depot demands. The team also coordinated among the various manufacturers to ensure optimal interconnectivity and regulatory compliance. Additionally, Arup’s knowledge of the local permitting process and previous experience with the local utility proved to be key to effectively moving the electrified bus depot forward.
Electrification brings multiple benefits
As it continues to expand its electric fleet and charging infrastructure, Montgomery County may see advantages beyond reduced carbon emissions and a resilient, reliable bus system. Residents along bus routes served by electrified vehicles will experience cleaner air, and both residents and riders will enjoy quieter buses inside and out. The lower operational costs of an electric bus fleet from the savings on maintenance and diesel fuel, will make funds available to continue procuring additional electric buses.
Paving the way
The Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot demonstrates a sustainable path for other municipalities, along with the private sector. They can transition towards electrification and reap the value of a sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective transit system.
As well as cutting carbon emissions, the Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot ensures a reliable public transportation system for the County. It enables uninterrupted bus services during any long-term power outages caused by severe weather as well as during any short-term disturbances or perturbations of the utility grid. The county currently has a four-bus pilot program with the plan to increase the fleet in phases up to 70 buses supported at the Brookville location. Working towards the County's 2035 community-wide carbon neutrality goal, the microgrid implementation will be the first major step in reducing public transportation emissions.
The Brookville Smart Energy Bus Depot’s microgrid and charging infrastructure opened on October 31, 2022.
