Video of San
Diego microgrid site available here.
SAN
DIEGO, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego
Gas & Electric (SDG&E) unveiled four new microgrids
featuring advanced remote operation capabilities and
state-of-the-art safety technologies to help enhance grid
reliability and bolster resiliency for the surrounding
communities.
The four microgrid and energy storage sites, located in the
communities of Clairemont, Tierra
Santa, Paradise, and Boulevard, will help address surging
energy demands in the San Diego
region, especially during hot summer days and the peak evening
hours when solar power generation typically diminishes and there is
significant strain on the grid.
The ability to remotely operate microgrids offers real-time
monitoring, faster response to grid events, more efficient energy
storage management, and enhanced grid resilience designed to help,
optimize overall performance, reliability, and
sustainability. These systems utilize lithium iron phosphate
(LFP) battery cells and have advanced safety and fire prevention
features.
Caroline Winn, SDG&E's Chief
Executive Officer, emphasized the significance of these clean
energy projects in bolstering the region's resilience to the
escalating challenges posed by climate change.
"Storage and microgrids are key to helping build a more
resilient electric grid that can extend the availability of cleaner
energy and help our communities better manage through grid
emergencies like the extreme heat experienced in recent summers,"
said Winn. "These microgrids will actively dispatch clean energy to
the grid when needed and help improve energy resiliency for
critical facilities like fire stations, schools, and cooling
centers in San Diego."
Nora Vargas, San Diego County Board Supervisor, has been a
long-time environmental justice advocate and emphasized the
importance of equity in our road to a net zero future.
"For communities like mine that often experience outages during
power emergencies, we welcome infrastructure that will help keep
our lights on and our refrigerators running during difficult
times," said Chairwoman Nora Vargas.
"Enhancing our power grid is an important first step in making sure
all communities have access to basic resources during a crisis,
especially for our local schools, fire stations, and medical
centers."
In December 2021, the California
Public Utilities Commission granted the green light to SDG&E to
move forward with these innovative projects. The four microgrids
will operate independently or in tandem with the larger regional
grid and offer a combined storage capacity of approximately 39
megawatts (MW) and 180 megawatt-hours (MWh) across four SDG&E
substations.
These projects were set into motion in response to Gov. Newsom's
State Emergency Proclamation in the summer of 2021. These
facilities will be connected to the state energy market, allowing
the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to dispatch
these resources as needed to help maintain a balanced supply and
demand of energy throughout the state.
The energy storage sites are:
- The Clairemont microgrid serves the Balboa Branch
Library/Cool Zone, Fire Station 36, and local schools such
as Lafayette Elementary, Sequoia Elementary, Innovation and
CPMA Middle Schools and Madison High
School.
- The Elliott Microgrid will generate 10MW and has the
capacity to power Fire Station 39, the Tierrasanta Public
Library/Cool Zone, Tierrasanta Medical Center, Jean Farb Middle School, Canyon Hills High
School, and Tierrasanta and Kumeyaay Elementary Schools.
- The Paradise Microgrid that has the ability to power Fire
Stations 51 and 32, the Southeast Division Police Department, and
Bell Middle School as well as
Freese, Boone and Fulton
Elementary
- The Boulevard microgrid serves the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, Fire
Station 47, Campo Reservation Fire Station, Cal Fire White Star Station, Campo Tribal
Office, Campo Kumeyaay Nation Medical Center, Southern Indian
Health Council Campo Clinic, the Boulevard Border Patrol Station,
and the Boulevard Post Office
About SDG&E:
SDG&E is an innovative
energy delivery company that provides increasingly cleaner, safe
and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in
San Diego and southern
Orange counties. The company is
committed to creating a sustainable future by increasing energy
delivered from low or zero-carbon sources; accelerating the
adoption of electric vehicles; and investing in innovative
technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region's
infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a subsidiary
of Sempra (NYSE: SRE). For more information, visit
SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on X
(formerly Twitter) (@SDGE), Instagram
(@SDGE) and Facebook.
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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)