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    1. Energy Storage

    Scale Microgrid Solutions installing 12-MWh Energy Storage for central California Water District

    May 5, 2022
    The battery installation will ensure supply of 8-plus hours of clean power as backup at times of an outage. Installations will be at facilities that frequently face shut offs due to possible or actual wildfires.
    Image credit SMWD
    Santa Margaritawaterdistrict 6273e7e97015d

    Water utility Santa Margarita Water District in California has engaged Scale Microgrid Solutions to install, finance and operate 1-MWh energy storage systems at its water and wastewater treatment facilities.

    These are being built in areas designed by the California Public Utilities Commission as “High Fire Threat Territories.” Rancho Santa Margarita is located within the Santa Lucia Mountains.

    The battery installation will ensure supply of 8-plus hours of clean power as backup at times of an outage. Installations will be at facilities that frequently face shut offs due to possible or actual wildfires. These projects will bring benefits like elimination of the need for polluting diesel fuel and reduction in energy costs.

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    Don Bunts, Deputy General Manager at Santa Margarita Water District, expects the end product to benefit customers by ensuring increased resiliency, energy cost reduction and lowering of the carbon footprint. Santa Margarita Water District (District) provides drinking water, recycled water and wastewater services to over 200,000 residents in nine unique communities in California.  

    Scale Microgrid Solutions will own and operate the batteries and the initial costs for these systems will be offset by the state’s Self Generation Incentive Program.

    “This innovative project will provide Santa Margarita Water District with the energy independence to prepare for future environmental and economic challenges,” Ryan Goodman, CEO and co-founder of Scale Microgrid Solutions, said.

    The energy storage system at the Chiquita Water Reclamation Plant will pair with the existing on-site 1 MW of solar PV. The installed batteries will charge before scheduled power shutoff events, enrol in utility demand response programs and ensure grid stability during peak periods. 

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.