Agricultural Facility Battery Storage Case Study | Malibu, CA
Grid-tied backup power for resiliency and demand mitigation at a large agricultural property in Southern California.
Location: Malibu, CA
Site Type: Agricultural / Large Residence
System: Fortress Power eSpire Mini and Keystone EMS
System Size: 60 kW inverter, 246 kWh battery storage, Keystone EMS
Application: Resiliency, demand mitigation, SGIP utility incentives, VPP
The Need
Running an agricultural operation requires consistent, reliable power. Equipment, irrigation systems, and critical facility loads do not tolerate interruptions, and in Southern California’s SCE utility territory, intermittent blackouts were doing exactly that — halting operations at the worst possible times.
For the owners of this Malibu property, the reliability problem was the immediate priority. But they also saw an opportunity: while addressing the grid instability issue, they wanted to put a system in place that would also reduce energy costs over time. Resiliency and savings, addressed together.
The Solution
The Fortress Power eSpire Mini 60 kW / 246 kWh system, paired with Keystone EMS, was deployed as a grid-tied battery energy storage solution integrated with the site’s existing solar PV array.
The eSpire Mini’s all-in-one architecture simplified installation and reduced integration complexity, with Keystone EMS providing the intelligent management layer for peak shaving, grid services participation, and real-time energy monitoring. SGIP utility incentives helped offset the project cost, and VPP participation opens additional ongoing revenue potential for the site.
Results
The installation delivered on both objectives. Intermittent blackouts no longer halt critical operations, and the Keystone EMS actively manages energy usage to reduce peak demand charges and improve overall site economics. The all-in-one hardware and software solution delivered the resiliency and cost savings outcomes the customer needed, with an estimated payback of under five years and project delivery completed in under six months from purchase order.
Resiliency Where It Matters Most
For agricultural operations and large properties where power interruptions carry real operational consequences, the Fortress Power eSpire Mini provides a proven, deployable solution that addresses reliability and energy costs in a single system.
Ready to explore what a commercial solar + storage system could do for your facility? Start a C&I Project Quote.
