Technologies to improve power stability for California critical facilities

This isn’t as viable anymore. One reason is the gradually tightening emissions standards around diesel particulate matter by the California Air Resources Board. Also, during extended power outages, fuel shortages caused by fear-driven overconsumption, can reduce diesel supply. Other reasons include pressure from stakeholders to decarbonize operations, including the general public, municipal staff, regulators, and funding agencies.

Yet, the need for reliable backup power is growing. The large electric utilities that have provided most of California with power are now less able to do so reliably. Some risks are related to the changing climate leading to new grid management tactics to prevent wildfires caused by tree branches brushing against the power lines, particularly in dry and windy conditions. This has led the utility to carry out “public safety power shutdowns” (PSPS) when certain weather conditions prevail.

Fortunately, there is an increasing number of options to improve energy reliability for large electrical power users.

Part of the response is at the municipal level. Local leaders understand having reliable power is vital. So is ensuring medical facilities and emergency services, such as fire protection and police, are fully functional even in a power outage. In addition, employees living in the community are increasingly dependent on electrical power to live their lives – including charging their phones, accessing the Internet, and powering up their electric vehicles. Accordingly, municipal leaders are putting a priority on having a resilient power supply.

For these and other reasons, increasing numbers of municipalities are forming Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs). A new type of local government electricity provider that enables communities to decide what kinds of energy resources to invest in for themselves, rather than relying on traditional investor-owned utilities. Many CCAs focus on generating power through renewable energy and providing power storage to maintain a high level of service.

Large power users are also taking matters into their own hands and developing behind-the-meter microgrids to ensure energy needs are met, even if power from the larger grid is cut off.

Here are three technology trends to improve grid security and resiliency.

Local power generation

The ability to generate power locally is key to having it available to the community, including the large-scale power users in the community. Renewable energy options are increasingly affordable and practical, and wind, solar and geothermal are being used to meet the priorities of many residents who are looking for ways to live a greener lifestyle. It also improves the sustainability of the power generation system if carbon emissions become prohibitively expensive in the future. However, there may still be some need for diesel power generation in the mix, at least in the short term.

Power storage

Partly because of the intermittent nature of wind and solar technologies, power storage is the focus of huge volumes of research and rapidly becoming a standard for new project development. As well as technological improvements in battery technology, there are also increasing options for making power storage available through government funding programs, including California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program. In addition, some private battery supply companies offer a package that involves covering the up-front costs in exchange for a long-term contract.

One downside is current battery technology, while better, is far from perfect. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are expensive, resource intensive, and subsequently lack long-duration storage capacity. For this reason, there is a significant benefit to coupling storage with onsite generation to extend the islanding capability of a facility or community.

Demand management

While much of the focus in electrical power strategy has been aimed at supply and storage, a third area is seeing significant development -- managing the demand side. Large power users have long been familiar with requests to reduce their power consumption at times of power shortages on the grid, possibly due to surges in domestic consumption. Other power users find ways to schedule power-hungry procedures during times of low domestic demand. New developments include smart thermostats controlled remotely to adjust power consumption to the availability of power.

Replacement of equipment at the end of life with new, more efficient technologies are also key to reducing the demand.

Given the importance of reliable, cost-effective electrical power for large industrial users, it’s crucial to have the right information in a fast-changing environment.

There is plenty of information available, although much of it is prepared by those with a particular vested interest – vendors of one technology, by large power utilities promoting their point of view, or by government organizations. However, professional firms with various skillsets can help large-scale power users get unbiased, current advice on options for their unique energy resiliency needs.