Case Study: University of California San Diego achieves 92% on-site energy generation and a smart, optimized microgrid with OSIsoft PI System

University of California San Diego - Customer Case Study

The University of California San Diego set out to transform its 1,200-acre campus — a “small city” with 725 buildings and high energy density — into a resilient, low‑carbon microgrid. Facing the challenge of coordinating diverse on‑site generation (cogeneration, solar, a 2.8 MW fuel cell), storage and building systems while handling high‑frequency, proprietary data streams, UCSD needed a way to unify operations and reduce reliance on the grid.

UCSD deployed the OSIsoft PI System as a real‑time data hub and protocol “translator,” integrating hundreds of sensors, building controls and partner platforms (Power Analytics, Viridity) to optimize generation, storage and demand. The result: the campus now produces about 92% of its energy on site, captures tens of thousands of live data streams for ongoing optimization, and realizes multimillion‑dollar annual savings (the central cogeneration plant cuts roughly $8M in grid purchases each year), with scalable plans for wider connectivity and public data transparency.

University of California San Diego