Sandbar Solar’s new office facility in Santa Cruz, CA was designed from the ground up to run independently of the utility grid. Rather than pay for an expensive interconnection study, the owner chose a cleaner, more efficient path—powering the building entirely with an off-grid microgrid system.
The custom-designed solar powered microgrid complies with the local jurisdiction’s building requirements and the California Air Resources Board’s restriction of backup generator operation to fewer than 500 hours per year. To meet these constraints, Generac conducted detailed system analysis to determine optimal sizing for both the solar-plus-storage configuration and the natural gas generator. Generac also supported the permitting process by supplying the required technical documentation.
At the heart of the system is the Generac ARC microgrid control system, which serves as the main interface for real-time monitoring, control, and system optimization. The ARC controller ensures maximum renewable microgrid energy usage while deploying the generator only when necessary. Its intelligent dispatch capabilities allow the site to meet load demands efficiently without exceeding operational limits.
Because the building is located near a residential area, the owner sought to avoid generator noise during the night. Generac solved this by implementing a “quiet hours” mode within the ARC microgrid software.
If projected battery reserves are insufficient to carry the overnight load, ARC proactively charges the batteries in the early evening to avoid generator use during sleeping hours.
Since commissioning, this advanced microgrid has delivered consistent, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable power—proving cleaner and more reliable than the local utility grid ever could.
