Overview
The Bubolz Nature Preserve is a non-profit environmental preserve located in northeast Wisconsin. For more than 45 years, the preserve has invited the public to enjoy its beautiful recreational and educational opportunities. EnTech Solutions installed and maintains a microgrid at Bubolz that enables them to generate clean energy to power their beautiful lodge and other facilities, and the power generated has also allowed them to create sustainable and resilient electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for public use. Reducing carbon emissions supports the environmental goals of the preserve.
Solution
EnTech Solutions installed six level-2 EV charging stations tied to the microgrid at Bubolz. The EV chargers utilize solar power and two forms of energy storage as the primary source of power. The charging stations are available to the public free of charge and are primarily powered by the sun. With 725 acres of nature and more than eight miles of trails, the Bubolz Nature Preserve is a great place for people to sustainably charge their vehicles while getting back to nature on a nice hike or cross-country skiing outing.
Outcome
Over the past 12 months, more than 97% of the power to the facility and EV charging stations came from clean solar energy, saving more than 2.2 million pounds of CO2. The clean EV charging stations provide an additional amenity for guests while helping the environment.
During an approximately six-month period, the EV chargers dispensed 13 MWh of energy. This equates to the following metrics*:
- 20,311 lbs of CO2 avoidance
- 68,385 miles of range in a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range
- For a standard 28 MPG internal combustion engine car, the equivalent of 2,442 gallons of gasoline avoided
- At $3.25/gallon, that is nearly $8,000 of free fuel equivalency provided by the preserve