Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), in partnership with Nissan and Fermata Energy, has unveiled a pioneering Vehicle-to-Microgrid (V2M) technology demonstration designed to enhance energy resilience at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCAM) in McKinleyville, California. The pilot highlights the growing potential of electric vehicles to serve as distributed energy resources capable of supporting both local infrastructure and grid operations.
The project integrates two Nissan LEAF vehicles (2020–2021 models) equipped with bidirectional charging capabilities and four Fermata Energy FE-20 bidirectional chargers, all managed through Fermata Energy’s advanced Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) optimisation platform. This setup enables the EVs to automatically discharge energy back into the microgrid during outages or peak demand events, reinforcing airport reliability and emergency preparedness.
According to PG&E, the initiative marks the first-ever demonstration of automated frequency response within a multi-customer microgrid using electric vehicles. When the grid experiences fluctuations or instability, the system allows the EVs to respond instantly, injecting or absorbing power to help stabilise the network in real time.
Project collaborators include the Schatz Energy Research Center (Cal Poly Humboldt) and the Humboldt County Aviation Division, both of which play key roles in operating and supporting the RCAM microgrid. Together, they aim to establish a viable model for future microgrid deployments that pair renewable energy systems with EV-based energy storage.
Mike Delaney, PG&E’s Vice President of Utility Partnerships & Innovation, noted that the demonstration underscores the strategic value of V2M technology:
“This project shows how electric vehicles can go beyond transportation, providing critical energy services that strengthen resilience for communities and essential facilities like airports.”
The pilot aligns with PG&E’s broader vision of transforming electric vehicles into flexible grid assets. As California moves toward higher renewable energy integration, bidirectional EVs are expected to play a crucial role in supporting grid stability, reducing reliance on traditional backup generators, and enabling cleaner, more reliable power solutions.
The successful V2M demonstration at RCAM sets a strong precedent for next-generation microgrid design, paving the way for scalable, clean-energy-driven resilience solutions across the state and beyond.
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