Microgrids  -  December 8, 2020

Port of San Diego plans 700 kW microgrid project

The Port of San Diego announced Dec. 7 that it has awarded a contract for the construction of its 700 kW Microgird Infrastructure Project that will consist of a battery storage system and electrical infrastructure that could save the port $3.2 million in energy costs over 20 years.

The contract was awarded to EDF Renewables North America, which will construct the project at the port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, a project that was approved by the Board of Port Commissioners in November. The system will provide emergency back-up power to port-operated facilities such as security infrastructure, lights, offices and the existing jet fuel storage system.

“The microgrid project provides numerous benefits for not just the Port, but our surrounding communities and region,” Michael Zucchet, vice-chair of the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners, said in a statement. “We’re delighted to be a leader in the process of cargo terminal electrification. Through our testing, monitoring and evaluation, we will share our findings with other ports in California and around the world.”

In addition to optimizing operations by drawing from stored energy during expensive peak times, the energy storage system will reduce utility costs by discharging the battery to mitigate spikes in usage to lower demand charges. The microgrid will also be able to support the facility during a power outage instead of relying on only a diesel generator for backup power, which will result in fuel savings and reduced emissions.

The project supports the port’s Climate Action Plan, which was announced in 2013 and targets a 10% reduction in emissions by 2020, a goal that the port is on track to achieve. Going forward, the port intends to target a 40% reduction by 2030 and 80% reduction by 2050.

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