Cupertino, May 16, 2024 – Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a renewable natural gas and renewable fuels company focused on low and negative carbon intensity products, today announced that the installation of a $12 million, 3 megawatt solar microgrid with battery storage and an AI energy management system has been completed at the Keyes ethanol plant. TotalEnergies was the project developer who provided the PV solar technology, and also built and commissioned the system. Schneider Electric provided the electrical and battery storage equipment. Aemetis is the owner and operator of the entire AI-enabled solar microgrid and battery storage system.
The solar array and battery storage system will reduce the amount of grid electricity purchased during the high-cost peak periods in the late afternoon and early evening by capturing and storing solar energy during mid-day in the battery storage, then delivering the electricity from the battery storage system to the plant during peak hours.
“This large integrated solar and battery storage system is a key step in the conversion of the Keyes ethanol plant to renewable electricity from petroleum natural gas,” stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aemetis, Inc. “We appreciate funding support from the California Energy Commission, as well as the positive working relationship with TotalEnergies as the general contractor during design, construction, and commissioning.”
“TotalEnergies is proud to support the ambition of Aemetis, which is demonstrating, through this project, how the manufacturing sector can play a key role in the decarbonization of energy and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in California,” said Eric Potts, Vice President at TotalEnergies Renewables USA. “This new system integrating solar energy production and battery storage, managed by AI software, demonstrates our ability to deliver green energy solutions that maximize energy production and minimize energy costs for our clients.”
“Schneider Electric appreciates the talented team at Aemetis who worked closely with us to achieve this significant conversion of the Keyes plant to the use of solar energy,” said Jana Gerber, Schneider Electric’s President of North America Microgrids. “Aemetis is building projects that show leadership in the reduction of the carbon intensity of renewable fuels, and we are excited to be engaged with Aemetis at the Keyes plant and as a potential supplier of equipment for the electrical substation at the Aemetis Sustainable Aviation Fuel plant in Riverbank.”
The California Energy Commission provided an $8 million grant to support the construction of the solar array, battery storage and AI energy management system.
Image credit: Aemetis, Inc.