Battery Energy Storage Systems
(BESS) and Microgrids
Overview
SDG&E has been rapidly expanding its battery energy storage and microgrid portfolio. Within our service territory, we have around 20 battery energy storage systems (BESS) and microgrid sites with 95 megawatts (MW) of utility-owned energy storage, plus another 200+ MW in development.
Typically, these battery systems and microgrids are installed on SDG&E-owned property; they are adjacent to our existing substation facilities or in critical locations where grid reliability and resiliency is needed most.
Microgrids are small-scale electric grids that can operate independent of or parallel to the larger regional grid and can keep critical community facilities powered during outages. Battery storage is an important part of every microgrid.
Battery storage works by absorbing electricity when it’s abundant on the power grid and sending excess power back to the grid when it’s most needed, such as during the evening after the sun sets and solar energy fades away.
Project Benefits
- Helps advance our state and region’s renewable energy goals and support state directives to increase energy storage capacity.
- Enables the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to dispatch energy from our batteries at any time to help balance supply and demand on the statewide grid.
- Extends the availability of renewable energy into peak demand hours to help reduce impacts of power outages, Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and other emergency or unplanned service interruptions.
About the Project
What to Expect
Microgrid and battery projects are complicated systems comprised of batteries, inverters or power conversion systems (PCS), transformers, cyber secure communications, metering, switching, energy and battery management systems, microgrid controllers (if applicable) and auxiliary equipment. Batteries are installed in custom-built, above-ground enclosures, with a fire suppression and warning system to maximize safety.
SDG&E will work to minimize impacts such as noise and dust from construction activities to the extent possible. Construction may take place in phases. Sometimes planned outages may occur due to the nature of this work, and customers will be promptly notified.
Project Schedule and Map
Current BESS Projects in construction:
- Melrose: 20 MW Battery Energy Storage System — Estimated end date: Q3 2023
- Pala Gomez Creek: 10 MW Battery Energy Storage System — Estimated end date: Q3 2023
Current Microgrid Projects in construction:
- Boulevard: 10 MW Microgrid — Estimated end date: Q3 2023
- Paradise: 10 MW Microgrid — Estimated end date: Q4 2023
- Elliott: 10 MW Microgrid — Estimated end date: Q3 2023
- Clairemont: 9 MW Microgrid — Estimated end date: Q3 2023
- Shelter Valley: 800 kW Microgrid — Coming soon
- Butterfield Ranch: 800 kW Microgrid —Coming soon
Construction Notifications and Updates
More Information
If you have any questions or concerns about these BESS and microgrid projects, please contact SDG&E’s toll-free project number at 1-844-210-5821.