San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced the approval by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for the major expansion of its Westside Canal Battery Energy Storage facility in California’s Imperial Valley. The expansion will add 100 MW of capacity, bringing the total energy storage to 231 MW. It will come into service by June 2025.
Raising Energy Resiliency for California Communities
Caroline Winn, CEO of SDG&E, said, “By increasing storage capacity, we can allow more clean energy to be efficiently stored and dispatched when it’s needed most, helping to create a more resilient and sustainable grid for our communities”
This facility is part of SDG&E’s plan to grow its battery storage portfolio to 480 MW and 1.9 GWh by 2025.
Cost Savings and Energy Affordability
One of the most important advantages of the Westside Canal expansion project is that it can assist in keeping energy prices lower for consumers. For the second year running, SDG&E lowered household bills, partly due to federal tax credits on infrastructure expenditures. The company paid back $200 million worth of federal tax credits to customers after it finished several battery storage projects, including Westside Canal.
The growth will also introduce four critical services for enhancing grid stability and efficiency. Services like generation capacity, energy balancing, and congestion management will ensure a more stable and efficient power supply.
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Key Contributions to Grid Stability and Efficiency
The new Westside Canal facility, expanded in size, will provide peak power backup, ensuring adequate power when it is most needed. It will also offer ancillary services like frequency regulation and voltage control to support grid stability. The facility will also hold excess energy during low-demand hours and release it when demand is high, hence maximizing energy consumption and stabilizing power prices.
The facility will also make power flow more efficient and reduce congestion by taking up energy close to generation points and discharging it when congestion in transmission lines is reduced, thereby leading to a more efficient and reliable network.
Safety commitment by SDG&E is an utmost concern for the expansion project. The facility will have UL/NFPA compliance standards along with leading-edge safety features such as emergency stops, lockable disconnects, and lightning protection. SDG&E is also collaborating closely with local first responders and following established safety practices in energy storage.