New Chapter in Microgrids: Solar and Battery Storage Bringing Connecticut’s First All-Electric Library to Life

When the town of Manchester, Connecticut opens the doors to its new public library next year, it will be the first such all-electric facility in the state.

The approximately 70,000 square foot building will feature grid-interactive renewables, including 370 kW of solar and battery storage and electric vehicle charging equipment, all connected by a microgrid controller.

Power management technology firm Eaton will deliver the electrical infrastructure and turnkey engineering services, as well as its microgrid control and grid-interactive battery energy storage system (BESS), xStorage.

The approach, which Eaton calls “Buildings as a Grid,” will synchronize the library’s on-site renewables and energy storage with local energy markets, benefiting both the town and the broader grid. It will allow the library to optimize its energy use—lowering costs and improving resilience—while giving the grid operator more flexibility during periods of high demand.

Through its partnership with ChargePoint, Eaton will also install networked smart EV chargers on the library grounds, with the microgrid controller managing charger loads, and coordinating with onsite resources.

“The new Manchester Public Library showcases how smart energy management can reduce costs and demand on the grid while optimizing resilience and sustainability,” said Paul Ryan, vice president and general manager of energy transition at Eaton. “We’re confident our proven intelligent power management solutions and expertise will benefit the Town of Manchester and its residents for decades to come.”   

Zero-net energy ready

The three-story library in downtown Manchester, about fifteen minutes east of Hartford, is expected to include dedicated spaces for children and teens, makerspaces, an audio-visual studio as well as study and meeting room. 

Connecticut’s first all-electric library is also expected to be the state’s first zero net energy (ZNE)-ready library, designed with the infrastructure and efficiency measures needed to eventually produce as much energy as it consumes.

Unlike other libraries, which typically rely on fossil fuels to power furnaces or boilers for space and water heating, Manchester’s library is being designed from the ground up for all-electric operation. Geothermal heating and cooling systems, among other sustainability measures, could be installed down the road to help the library achieve its ZNE goal.

“Our community overwhelmingly supports our investment in this state-of-the-art library as a beacon of sustainability, innovation and education,” said Steve Stephanou, town manager at the Town of Manchester. Eaton’s forward-thinking solutions and strong relationships with the project team have been essential to turn our goal of building Connecticut’s first net-zero public library into reality.”

Funded, in part, by ratepayers

The library will fund the project using state and local resources, federal tax credits and incentives from Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) Energy Storage Solutions program. This program is supported by electric ratepayers and administered by the Connecticut Green Bank as well as Eversource and the United Illuminating Company, the state’s two main investor-owned electric utility companies.

In exchange for allowing the BESS to help reduce grid stress on summer days for 10 years, the library will receive upfront incentives covering up to 50% of the battery cost. Additional performance-based incentives are paid twice yearly, based on the system’s contributions to the grid.