Off-grid Commercial Office DC Grid System

A hybrid AC and DC platform that is being designed as an open architecture focused on reducing or eliminating inefficient AC to DC conversions between power sources and light sources by converting and distributing power in DC. This platform is designed to improve reliability and energy efficiency across all areas of commercial buildings. Replace existing Alternating Current (AC) fed ceiling in a commercial office with a Direct Current (DC) micro grid that can be fed via Photovoltaic panels installed on the building or via a utility fed inverter. This field evaluation is phase one of a multiphase project that aims to evaluate performance and provide proof of concept of a DC fed lighting system, vending machine and a ventilation system. This phase will provide proof of concept of DC ceiling in addition to evaluating the performance of the system.

Southern California Edison (SCE) conducted this Emerging Technologies (ET) field assessment to evaluate the light performance and energy savings potential of the Direct Current (DC) ceiling grid technology compared to a typical T-bar ceiling grid technology in commercial buildings. This project evaluated DC system and its components to measure its annual energy consumption, average demand, and light output. Within SCEs service territory, a site with a test area of approximately 1,080 square feet with 16 light fixtures was selected. Each fixture contains three 28 or 32 Watt (W) T-8 fluorescent lamps with electronic instant start, non-dimming ballasts.