Faith Technologies partners with Schneider Electric to build one of the largest, most advanced microgrids in the Midwest

September 7, 2017

MENASHA, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Faith
Technologies, in partnership with Schneider
Electric, is engineering and building the largest, most advanced
microgrid in the Midwest to power the Gordon
Bubolz Nature Preserve using renewable energy. The new
18,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art environmental center is expected to
be complete and open to the public in January 2018. Faith Technologies
is partnering with The
Boldt Company on the construction of the building.

The Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, is a
725-acre non-profit nature preserve that connects the community to
nature for a healthier, stronger and more sustainable future. The
microgrid will include photovoltaic solar, a hydrogen fuel cell, battery
storage, micro turbine and a natural gas generator, which will enable
Bubolz to demonstrate the most advanced methods of energy conservation
in the world, with STEM programs to educate students of all ages.

“Photovoltaic solar is the fastest growing energy resource in America,
and Faith Technologies and Schneider Electric are working with
innovators like Bubolz to bring together distributed energy resources
like cogeneration and photovoltaic solar systems,” said Philip Barton,
Schneider Electric Microgrid Competency Center Director. “By working
with Faith Technologies and Schneider Electric, Bubolz will have an
advanced microgrid to maximize their renewable energy on and off the
grid. By marrying the Internet of Things to its energy system, the
Bubolz microgrid will be able to optimize when it consumes, produces or
stores energy, thereby demonstrating the highest levels of
sustainability, reliability and efficiency through tools like Schneider
Electric Energy Control Center and EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor.”

Faith Technologies will construct the microgrid and install Schneider
Electric’s EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor, which will manage the
distribution of energy resources at Bubolz, including photovoltaic solar
power, a microturbine, batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.

“We are very excited about our partnership with Schneider Electric and
Bubolz for this innovative microgrid project,” said Charlie Fredrickson,
vice president of investments at Faith Technologies. “Not only will the
microgrid be the main power source for Bubolz, but it will also
demonstrate what is possible with on-site power generation and energy
management.”

Other benefits of the advanced microgrid includes the potential to have
zero carbon emissions and to achieve 50 percent lifetime power savings.
The microgrid will provide power to Bubolz’s main facility, as well as
the smaller buildings on the property, while achieving net-zero energy
consumption.

“The Bubolz microgrid will keep Wisconsin and the Midwest on the
forefront of research to transform the way we source and manage energy,”
said Fredrickson.

About Faith Technologies

Faith Technologies, Inc. is a national leader in electrical planning,
engineering, design and installation. With more than 2,400 employees,
Faith Technologies is one of the largest privately-held contractors in
the United States. Established in 1972, Faith Technologies is committed
to safety on and off the job site, and in 2016 was awarded the
Associated General Contractors of America’s Safety Excellence Award in
the specialty contractor division. The company is nationally ranked in
Electrical Construction & Maintenance’s “Top 50
Electrical Contractors” and “Top 40 Electrical Design Firms,” Engineering
News-Record’s “Top 600 Specialty Contractors,” as well as Solar
Power World’s “Top 500 Solar Contractors.” Faith Technologies is
headquartered in Menasha, Wisconsin, with regional offices throughout
Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma,
Tennessee and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.faithtechnologies.com,
or the blog at www.faithtechnologies.com/blog.
For information on Faith Technologies' electrical risk management
services, visit www.faithERM.com.