Advanced Microgrid Solutions (AMS), a new company focusing on designing, financing, installing and managing energy storage solutions for commercial, industrial and governmental buildings, has signed an agreement with Tesla to use 500MWh of Tesla’s batteries in its utility-scale energy storage projects. AMS has also signed a master agreement with global firm Black & Veatch for engineering and construction services.

AWS combines energy storage technology and intelligent software to utilize customer loads, turning the loads into virtual power plant. The distributed systems will be aggregated into regional “fleets” that provide clean, fully dispatchable load reduction to utilities. AWS will install and operate Tesla’s Powerpack batteries in commercial and industrial facilities to provide grid support to utilities using customer load.

Last fall, AMS secured 50-MWs of contracts to build grid-scale energy storage projects for Southern California Edison, including the creation of the first fleet of Hybrid-Electric Buildings™.

Utilities benefit from the ability to defer distribution system upgrades, greater reliability in areas with circuit overload, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and the seamless integration of renewable generation. Host customers enjoy immediate bill savings, enhanced energy efficiency, and the security of backup generation

"This is all about building resilience into the grid," said Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, co-founder of AMS and former Assistant Secretary of the Navy. "Energy storage turns traditional demand response into firm, reliable capacity – it changes everything about the way the grid is operated."

AMS' first 10-MW Hybrid-Electric Building Project will be installed in Irvine, California in 2016. AMS will also sign battery supply agreements with additional technology providers.