Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), in partnership with Nissan, Fermata Energy, and the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, has launched a demonstration project that integrates electric vehicles (EVs) and bidirectional charging technology into a microgrid at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCAM) in McKinleyville, California. The project aims to provide grid support, enhance energy resilience, and help customers save on energy costs.
The initiative uses two previous generation Nissan LEAF vehicles from model years 2020-21 equipped with CHAdeMO quick charge ports and four FE-20 bidirectional charging stations supplied by Fermata Energy. The V2X optimization platform from Fermata Energy manages the interaction between the EVs, chargers, and the microgrid.
“Integrating bidirectional chargers and EVs at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid is an innovative solution that will expand the capacity of the site, extending the capability for powering the airport during local grid outages and providing another clean energy resource for ensuring statewide grid stability,” said Mike Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnerships and Innovation at PG&E. “The project showcases innovative Vehicle-to-Microgrid (V2M) technologies and demonstrates how EVs can support local energy needs and grid resilience.”
RCAM is operated jointly by PG&E and the Redwood Coast Energy Authority. The project allows for automated frequency response using Fermata’s V2X platform—an industry first as part of PG&E’s broader efforts to improve grid resilience.
“At Fermata Energy, we see a real opportunity to transform electric vehicles from simple modes of transportation into critical energy assets. By integrating our intelligent V2X platform and bidirectional chargers, we are delivering measurable cost savings, valuable grid services and enhanced local energy resilience. This pilot provides a scalable blueprint for communities, fleets, and utilities to harness EVs as distributed energy resources, accelerating the transition to a cleaner and more reliable grid in California and beyond,” said Hamza Lemsaddek, Chief Operating Officer of Fermata Energy.
The Schatz Center developed advanced microgrid controls so that EV batteries can balance solar power production with battery storage in real time. This helps strengthen both local resilience during outages as well as broader regional stability.
“We are proud to have led the technical integration of this important pilot project that advances local resiliency and deep decarbonization and can play an important role in the community microgrids that are being developed across California’s rural north coast and beyond,” says David Carter, Principal Engineer at the Schatz Energy Research Center.
As part of this effort, Humboldt County Aviation Division acquired one 2021 Nissan LEAF while Nissan provided a second 2020 LEAF under agreement with Humboldt County. These vehicles are used by county staff but also spend time connected to bidirectional chargers when not in use; during those periods they supply electricity back into RCAM or reduce county electric bills by offsetting demand charges.
“Nissan is proud to collaborate on innovative projects that explore how electric vehicles can contribute to energy resilience and sustainability. This pilot demonstrates the potential for EVs to support local energy needs and grid stability, and we look forward to continuing to work with partners like PG&E to explore these technologies,” said Rich Miller, Vice President of Vehicle Connected Services at Nissan U.S. & Canada.
The system also responds automatically during periods when California’s electricity grid is under stress through participation in programs such as California’s Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP). When signaled by ELRP events or if RCAM becomes isolated from main utility lines (“islanded”), vehicle-charger pairs adjust their output or intake based on battery status—either supplying power or absorbing excess solar generation as needed.
Project leaders expect this demonstration will offer insights for designing new grid architectures aligned with California’s goals: achieving 60 percent renewable electricity by 2030—and reaching 100 percent renewable plus zero-carbon power by 2045.
PG&E continues developing other V2X pilots targeting residential or commercial customers across its service area. Participating customers may qualify for financial incentives—including additional benefits available for disadvantaged communities under Assembly Bill 841—to help cover costs related to installing bidirectional chargers or participating in performance-based programs like ELRP. More information about these offerings is available on PG&E’s website: Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Pilot Programs.
Pacific Gas & Electric serves over sixteen million people across Northern & Central California through combined natural gas & electric utility operations covering roughly 70 thousand square miles (pge.com). Additional background on Fermata Energy—a subsidiary of Nuvve Holding Corp.—and its V2X solutions is available via Fermata Energy. Information about ongoing research initiatives led by Schatz Center can be found at schatzcenter.org/microgrids.
