Case Study: University of California San Diego achieves real-time grid innovation with Johnson Controls Metasys

University of California San Diego enables 2-second grid control with Johnson Controls

The University of California San Diego (UCSD) needed a way to validate new energy technologies and control strategies at a real-world scale to integrate distributed energy resources into the power grid. Their challenge was that traditional lab environments lacked large-scale testing capabilities and fragmented energy management reduced visibility. Johnson Controls supported this initiative by connecting campus infrastructure.

Johnson Controls connected 11 campus buildings to the DERConnect Lab using the Metasys Building Automation System, enabling real-time control of HVAC, lighting, and energy systems. This solution provided a unified platform for testing and advanced research. The results included achieving 2-second monitoring and control, scaling testing with over 2,500 connected devices, and advancing a $42M model to modernize resilient, low-carbon energy systems.

University of California San Diego