Giraffic Solar Park: Valley Children’s Celebrates Construction on Microgrid

California Central Valley’s major pediatric hospital celebrated groundbreaking ceremonies for its microgrid project that will integrate solar, fuel cells and battery storage.

Valley Children’s Healthcare in Madura plans to bring the microgrid into operation next year. The facility’s planners hope that the project will generate 80% of the hospital’s on-site energy needs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half and save $15 million in energy costs over the next 25 years compared to previous utility bills, according to the release about the groundbreaking.

Among the Valley Children’s Healthcare microgrid’s unique attributes will be a solar photovoltaic array in the shape of George the Giraffe, the hospital’s well-known mascot. Part of the mission behind the microgrid project is improving healthy air quality for regional children.

“Today marks a momentous milestone for Valley Children’s, and this initiative is a testament to our unwavering commitment that our hospital remains a beacon of hope and care, regardless of external circumstances,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare President and CEO Todd Suntrapak, in a statement. “By investing in this cutting-edge technology, we are securing a reliable energy source for our patients, doctors and staff and contributing to a more sustainable future for our community.”

Last year, Australian firm Redflow was selected to deliver the 34.4-MW battery storage system in collaboration with Faraday Microgrids. Financing comes from the U.S. Department of Energy-supported Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) $325 million fund and from the California Energy Commission.

Valley Children’s Healthcare serves close to 1.3 million children in central California’s region known worldwide for its agricultural industry. The organization operates a 358-bed children’s hospital in Madera in a region known for wildfire risks and power grid shut offs.

“Our mission is driven by the unwavering belief that every child deserves the best possible future,” added Suntrapak. “Every decision we make is guided by our dedication to their health, safety and well-being. This project is not just about energy resilience. It is about ensuring a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.”

Hospitals have deployed backup generators on site for decades, but the healthcare industry is increasingly looking to multi-resource microgrids to contribute to requirements for energy resiliency and environmental health goals. Kaiser Permanente is one of the major healthcare companies which has installed microgrids alongside medical facilities.