Case Study: MCRD Parris Island achieves 75% utility energy demand reduction and $6.9M annual savings with Ameresco

Comprehensive Resiliency Project Assures Continuity of Mission-Critical Operations at MCRD Parris Island

MCRD Parris (U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island) needed to modernize aging infrastructure and enhance energy resiliency to sustain training for over 20,000 recruits annually while cutting utility costs and water use. To address this challenge, Ameresco was selected under a Department of Energy–financed energy savings performance contract (ESPC) to deliver a turnkey energy and resiliency modernization across the installation.

Ameresco installed a comprehensive package—combined heat and power (3.5 MW CHP), 6.7 MW of solar PV (totaling ~10 MW on-site generation), a 4 MW/8.1 MWh battery energy storage system, automated microgrid controls, and broad energy conservation measures—financed via a $91.1M ESPC and maintained under a 22‑year O&M agreement. The Ameresco solution is projected to save $6.9M annually, cut utility energy demand by 75% and water use by 25%, store and dispatch excess solar generation, enable islanding during outages, and reduce carbon emissions by about 37,165 metric tons annually.

MCRD Parris

Daniel T. Magro

NAVFAC EXWC ESPC Program Lead