San Diego microgrid contract awarded

EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) will carry out the microgrid project, designed to island the electrical infrastructure at the port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT). The microgrid is anticipated to be installed starting early 2021.

Raphael Declercq, EVP, distributed solutions & strategy at EDF Renewables, commented: “We are pleased to be selected by the port to support their energy efficiency and renewable energy ambitions through the Microgrid Infrastructure Project.”

Microgrid project

The microgrid infrastructure project, which includes battery energy storage, energy efficiency lighting retrofits, electrical infrastructure improvements and a centralised microgrid controller, will provide emergency back-up power to the port-operated facilities. It will advance the port’s use of renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions on and around the TAMT and supports and aligns with the Port’s Climate Action Plan.

Vice chair Michael Zucchet, Port of San Diego board of port commissioners, said: “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.”

During typical grid connected operations, the battery system optimises operations by allowing the port to draw from the stored energy during the utility’s expensive evening on-peak period. The energy storage system will also reduce utility costs by discharging the battery to mitigate spikes in usage thereby lowering demand charges.

Meanwhile, during a power outage, instead of using only a diesel generator for backup power, the microgrid can support the port resulting in fuel savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.