Better Climate Challenge Partner Valley Children's Healthcare Installing Renewable Energy Microgrid

Tomorrow, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will join Valley Children's Healthcare to break ground on its renewable energy microgrid—a system that is expected to provide 80% of the energy demand for current hospital services. As a partner in DOE's Better Climate Challenge, Valley Children's Healthcare has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. This microgrid system in Madera, CA is the organization’s core strategy to meet that goal.

"By investing in an innovative microgrid system, Valley Children's Healthcare is demonstrating that decarbonization, healthcare, and resilience go hand-in-hand," said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "By prioritizing projects and practices that reduce emissions, our Better Climate Challenge partners are charting a path toward a strong renewable energy economy."

Once operational in 2025, the microgrid will be the largest of its kind in the country. Comprised of solar photovoltaic, battery storage, and fuel cells, the system will reduce Valley Children's Healthcare's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50%. The microgrid will also ensure hospital and campus buildings remain operational during regional power outages by reducing reliance on the traditional power grid.

The Better Climate Challenge is part of the Better Buildings Initiative, through which DOE partners with public and private sector organizations to accelerate decarbonization in commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings across the U.S. By focusing on greater energy efficiency and other strategies, partners save energy and money while reducing emissions and strengthening the economy. To date, hundreds of partners have saved nearly $22 billion in energy costs while sharing their innovative strategies. Discover more than 3,400 of these solutions in the Better Buildings Solution Center.