One of the nation’s leading utilities in developing microgrids, San Diego Gas & Electric, is unveiling four new remote projects designed to strengthen power resiliency and grid reliability at the same time.
SDG&E has previously announced the microgrid and energy storage sites in the communities of Clairemont, Tierra Santa, Paradise and Boulevard. The California Public Utilities Commission approved the utility’s request back in late 2021, and construction on those projects began in late 2022.
All four microgrids can operate independently and in tandem with the SDG&E regional grid. The total capacity of the four combined includes 39 MW and 180 MWh in duration connected across four SDG&E substations.
“Storage and microgrids are key to helping build a more resilient electric grid that can extend the availability of clean energy and help our communities better manage through grid emergencies like the extreme heat experienced in recent summers,” Caroline Winn, CEO of SDG&E, said in a statement. “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.”
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California is rapidly expanding its energy storage, solar and microgrid capabilities to deal with issues such as public safety power shutoffs due to wildfire dangers, as well as extreme heat and other weather events. The state now has at least 4,000 MW of battery storage capacity online, more than 200 MW of that under development by SDG&E, and is committed to building out at least another 2.2 GW (2,200 MW) of utility-scale energy storage.
The Tierra Santa microgrid is located at the utility’s Elliott substation and possesses battery capacity ready to discharge into the service territory if needed. Terria Santa also can power a local fire station, library, the Tierrasanta Medical Center and several schools, according to reports.
The microgrid at the Clairemont Substation will be able to provide backup power to Fire Station 36, the Balboa Ranch Library/Cool Zone, as well as five local school sites.
The Paradise and Boulevard microgrids also serve mission critical facilities such as fire stations, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Campo Tribal Office, Campo Kumeyaay Nation Medical Center, numerous schools, the Boulevard Border Patrol Station and the post office, among others.
Eleven years ago, SDG&E deployed what was called the nation’s first utility-scale microgrid, the Borrego Springs Microgrid in the remote desert town in northeastern San Diego County. The Borrego Springs project utilizes smart grid technology such as on-site power, battery storage and automated switching to deliver reliability and grid support.
The city council of San Diego is working with Gridscape Solutions in a joint effort to build eight local microgrids which will be owned and operated by Shell New Energies US.
The nearby Port of San Diego also is working on microgrid development to cut emissions at the busy cargo facilities.
