Colusa Indian Community

This island-mode microgrid is owned by the Colusa Indian Community and is operated by its own Tribal Utility Authority. The Tribe commissioned the system in 2005. The hybrid CHP/solar PV/BESS microgrid operates in full time island mode, isolated from the central grid, and has not experienced a power interruption since 2012.

Hybrid Microgrid Operation

The CHP/solar PV/BESS microgrid commissioned in 2005 originally consisted of four Jenbacher gas engines, later expanded to six. Thermal energy recovered from the engine water and exhaust drive absorption chillers totaling 1400 tons of cooling for the Colusa Casino Resort. The waste heat is also used to provide the resort with all of its space heating and hot water needs. Between 2012 and 2022, 1.1MW of solar PV, a 4MW battery UPS, and diesel backup engines were installed. The microgrid expansion is ongoing to add 2MW of BESS and another 1MW of new solar to offset agricultural loads. Today, this hybrid microgrid powers the entire reservation, including casino resort, Tribal admin campus, medical clinic, all of the Tribal members’ homes, water treatment plants, thousands of acres of ag loads, and more.