Scale Microgrids developing Solar-Storage hybrid for Mojave-region Water system
Cadiz has selected Scale Microgrids to develop clean energy microgrids for the Cadiz Water Conservation, Supply and Storage Project in the Mojave Desert in California.
Cadiz is a water solutions company with a large farming operation in San Bernardino County, California, while Scale Microgrids is a New Jersey-based distributed clean energy and microgrid platform.
Under the agreement, Scale will design solar-hybrid microgrids for Cadiz, combining ground mount Solar PV, battery storage, and advanced distributed generation technology. These microgrids are expected to reduce energy costs by over 30 percent, cut carbon emissions by more than 75 percent, and provide 100 percent uptime reliability.
“Microgrid technology has improved to the point where shifting to clean energy is now the most cost-effective way to operate off-grid,” said Susan Kennedy, Executive Chair of Cadiz. “Our mission is to deliver clean, reliable and affordable water to people. Scale’s solar-hybrid microgrid systems can give us the reliability we need at significantly lower cost while reducing emissions as much as 75 percent, demonstrating that clean energy and clean water go hand-in-hand.”
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Cadiz says it completed the construction of three new groundwater wells in April as part of its Water Conservation and Storage Project. This initiative aims to capture 50,000 acre-feet per year of surplus groundwater, preventing it from evaporating in the desert and making it accessible to communities through the construction of pipelines in railroad corridors and the conversion of natural gas pipelines for water transportation. The company notes that its wellfield and infrastructure will ensure a reliable water supply during drought periods and enable underground storage during periods of excess rainfall.
Once the project is fully constructed, Cadiz expects to have 25-30 production wells in operation. The company’s Northern Pipeline, an unused natural gas pipeline that will be converted to carry water, will transport 11 million tons of water annually to remote and underserved communities across Southern California.
Scale’s proposed clean energy microgrid design will equip each well with a 1.12 MW ground-mount solar PV system, a 693 kW/2.66 MWh battery energy storage system, and 380 kW of ultra-low emission generation. These components will be integrated with smart controls and a switchboard.
“Scale and Cadiz have strong compatibility when it comes to being mission-driven and aligned in the vision of a world where water resources are sustainably managed and available to all, equitably,” says Ryan Goodman, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Scale. “We continue to be committed to deploying cleaner and more reliable power across California at record speed, with water infrastructure being a critical priority.”
