Arizona Public Service affiliate Bright Canyon Energy has signed a microgrid lease with the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) in San Diego.
The long-term enhanced use lease will add battery storage and backup generators designed to power the entire Marine Corps Recruit Depot military base for extended periods of time.
Bright Canyon Energy, a subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital, plans to begin development on the project within the next few months.
The microgrid lease is being funded by NAVFAC’s new real estate business line, and the installation is expected to be completed in 2024. Currently, lease terms are set to extend until September 2056.
In the event of a grid blackout, the 25-MW microgrid will supply power to both the Marine Corps base and the Department of the Navy, as necessary.
The microgrid is one of several being developed by the US military to provide autonomous energy during power outages.
Interested in the military perspective on microgrids? View “Why the Electric Grid is No Longer Enough,” a panel discussion at Microgrid 2021 that features Shawn Bennett, senior advisor, Air Force Office of Assurance, and Mick Wasco, Utilities and Energy Management, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The 60-minute discussion is available for replay free of charge through June 3 by registering here.
A few months ago, Schneider Electric and Black & Veatch completed a large microgrid at the Marine Corps’ Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Across the state line, Arizona Public Service previously developed a microgrid at the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
According to Andrew Baughman, NAVFAC Southwest energy program director, the microgrid will be able to instantly detect grid anomalies and power fluctuations to seamlessly transition to backup power.
When necessary, the base will fully isolate from utility power and keep systems online with battery energy supplemented by prime movers to help distribute the electricity.
With reliable access to ongoing power, Marine Corps Recruit Depot personnel believe that the microgrid installation is essential for the continuous operation of the base’s training facilities.
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