When we were in SF, we made the obligatory trip to Alcatraz.
I was rather cynical with the solar and wind on the ferries, but they never really went into detail on what is done on the island, which is really quite clever.
http://energyefficiencymarkets.com/alcatraz-microgrid-life-rock-easy-even-microgrid/
A little different in the schemes that I've seen locally, in that most run power to the batteries, and draw off the batteries.
This runs operational stuff off the panels, then charges the batteries on the surplus.