Powering Public Safety with Clean Energy
The Montgomery County Public Safety Headquarters (PSHQ) in Maryland, USA, is a landmark building that plays a critical role in community services such as transportation management and emergency response. With nearly 400,000 square feet of facilities, it is the county’s largest administrative hub—and one that cannot afford downtime.
Maryland is one of the U.S. states most vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events. Since 2010, the state has experienced over 26 major power outages, including an 11-day blackout caused by Hurricane Sandy. To safeguard against such risks and meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2027, Montgomery County invested in an advanced hybrid microgrid system, integrating solar PV, natural gas, and a Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power (CCHP) system.
System Overview
The hybrid microgrid at PSHQ combines multiple clean energy technologies to ensure reliable, 24/7 operation:
- 2MW Solar Photovoltaic Canopies – Installed over parking areas, these panels generate renewable power while providing shade.
- 800 kW CCHP Package System – Powered by natural gas, integrated with waste heat recovery to drive a BROAD absorption chiller.
- BROAD Absorption Chiller (Model BDH100) – Provides 180 RT (633 kW) of cooling capacity using waste heat from the generator, reducing reliance on electric chillers.
- Backup & Cybersecurity Systems – Ensure resilience and stability even during grid failures.
This system generates 11.4 million kWh annually, covering 90–95% of the building’s energy needs while operating either in grid-parallel or island mode.
Benefits of the Hybrid Microgrid
✔ Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings
The BROAD absorption chiller recovers waste heat to provide free cooling, cutting annual electricity consumption by 946 MWh and improving overall system efficiency to 76%.
✔ Carbon Emission Reduction
Since implementation, the system has saved 12 million kWh of energy and reduced 11,000 tons of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to removing 2,376 cars from the road.
✔ Resilience in Emergencies
With islanding capability, the PSHQ microgrid can operate independently from the public grid, ensuring continuous power for emergency services.
✔ Award-Winning Sustainability
This project earned PEER Platinum Certification, the first U.S. public agency to achieve this energy performance rating (comparable to LEED for green buildings). It also received the 2018 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award for innovation.
Why This Matters for Indonesia
Just like Montgomery County, Indonesia faces increasing risks from extreme weather, rising energy costs, and the urgent need for carbon reduction. By adopting BROAD’s absorption chiller technology and hybrid microgrid solutions, businesses, campuses, hospitals, and government facilities in Indonesia can:
- Secure energy resilience during grid instability
- Reduce carbon emissions and achieve sustainability targets
- Save significantly on energy costs
- Build future-ready green infrastructure
BROAD Indonesia: Innovating for a Sustainable Future
At BROAD Indonesia, we bring global success stories like Montgomery County to local industries. With our non-electric absorption chillers powered by waste heat, steam, or hot water, we deliver proven solutions that cut costs while advancing toward net-zero buildings.
Contact BROAD Indonesia today to explore how hybrid energy solutions can transform your facility into a resilient, low-carbon, and cost-efficient operation.
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