BACK-UP POWER FOR MUTTVILLE
SENIOR DOG RESCUE CENTER
creating a small carbon footprint with solar
THE MUTTVILLE STORY
In the heart of San Francisco, a remarkable organization is redefining the future for senior dogs once considered “unadoptable.” Muttville, founded in 2007 by Sherri Franklin.
A passionate animal advocate and shelter volunteer, Sherri has transformed a home-based rescue operation into a beacon of hope for aging canines across the Bay Area and beyond.
As Muttville’s size and impact grew, so did its need for a modern and robust space to house their operations/ Muttville found a facility located on Florida Street in the city’s vibrant Mission district.
Once home to a textile mill, the building required extensive structural, mechanical, and electrical renovations to make it suitable to house a modern on-site, veterinary suite and senior dog rescue needs.
ENERGY PROJECT GOALS
Muttville’s new building, three distinct buildings constructed in the early 1990s, presented a complex electrical landscape.
- High-Leg Service – PG&E was unwilling to upgrade the system to a new 3-Phase 208V service
Muttville turned to two leading Bay Area contractors: Dome Construction and PRIME Electric.
THE CHALLENGES
POWER RELIABILITY CONCERNS: To ensure continuous operation of critical facilities during power outages Muttville would need backup power for critical building loads.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION: With a larger building would come higher energy costs, so finding a way to minimize this would allowing more resources to be directed towards Muttville’s primary goal of animal care.
REDUCE ENERGY FOOTPRINT: As a forward-thinking nonprofit, Muttville wanted to align with environmentally sustainable practices, setting an example for other nonprofits.
THE SOLUTION
MUTTSVILLE ENERGY SYSTEM CONFIGURATION:
SOLAR ARRAY: 75kWdc of rooftop-mounted solar (PV); 600A Utility Service
HYBRID INVERTER STACK: [2] Sol-Ark® 60K-3P-480V Commercial Hybrid Inverters, AeroCompact Racking
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE: [4] L3 Series LimitLess™ HV-60 Indoor Commercial Batteries to provide 240kW of lithium battery storage
BACK-UP GENERATOR: N/A
APPLICATION: Backup power for critical infrastructure, including refrigeration for medical supplies and building elevator
"The biggest thing was flexibility. We were able to pack a big punch in a small space. We have been waiting for this type of product for a long time."
THE RESULTS
After months of construction, the system was commissioned in late July of 2024, shortly before the client moved into the new space.
THE NEW MUTTVILLE SENIOR RESCUE CENTER BUILDING:
With the Sol-Ark® commercial energy storage in place, Muttville:
- Power critical loads for over 36 hours
- Generate over 1.2MWh of solar energy per year
- Avoid expensive PG&E TOU and demand charges