San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) said it had completed the Ramona microgrid, one of four planned microgrids within the High Fire Threat District in California.
The Ramona facility will provide backup power to the Ramona Air Attack Base, home base to CAL FIRE and U.S. Forest Service’s aerial firefighting assets. The microgrid is powered by a 500 kW / 2,000-kWh battery storage system and was built to bring resiliency to the base during public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) and other emergencies.
California utilities are directed to use PSPS events to keep communities safe from fire damage that could be caused by electric equipment. Turning off equipment also means the utilities generally cannot be liable for causing a wildfire. When high, hot winds are forecast and the threat of fire is high because it the ground is dry, PSPS events are enacted and powerlines are de-energized. Customers are told before these events take place, but those with critical needs for (for example, fire stations, hospitals and residential customers with medical equipment) can still be negatively impacted by the PSPS events.
Microgrids are small power grids that operate in parallel or independently of the larger electric grid to keep pre-defined areas or community resources powered during emergencies. In the Ramona case, the microgrid will ensure that firefighters can continue to do their work even when the power goes down.
In 2013, SDG&E built its first utility-scale microgrid in Borrego Springs, CA. The company said it is working to add three more microgrids to help lessen the impact of PSPS and support community resilience by keeping critical facilities energized.
Aerial view of the Ramona microgrid, owned by SDG&E. “As climate conditions continue to worsen, it’s imperative that we develop innovative solutions to support the continuity of essential resources, particularly our region’s emergency response resources, so they are ready for deployment at any moment,” said SDG&E CEO Caroline Winn. “The completion of the Ramona microgrid is a milestone in our ongoing partnership with CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest,” she added.
CAL FIRE staffs the Ramona Air Attack Base year-round with one OV-10A Bronco tactical aircraft and two S-2T airtankers. The aircraft support wildland fire suppression locally and can be requested to assist with fires throughout California.
Additionally, the base houses the U.S. Forest Service’s Bell 205 A++ helicopter and crew, which serves the Cleveland National Forest and can also be mobilized to help across California. During fire incidents in San Diego County, the Ramona Air Attack Base serves as the hub for fixed wing aircraft that are assigned to the incident.
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