Energy Projects Approved At Camp Pendleton, Naval Base San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — The California Energy Commission approved $50 million in grant funding Wednesday to support energy storage projects at Camp Pendleton and Naval Base San Diego.

The $42 million Camp Pendleton and $8 million Naval Base San Diego Long-Duration Energy Storage projects will support infrastructure aimed at maintaining uninterrupted power at both facilities in the event of outages and other emergency situations.

Officials with the commission and the Navy said the projects would also support California's clean-energy goals.

"Long-duration and multi-day energy storage is key to California's clean energy future because it helps transforms how we can capture and store excess power generated by renewable resources," CEC Chair David Hochschild said. "Working with the military on this project helps California continue accelerating the path to market for emerging technologies that are critically needed to address climate change, air pollution, and equity in our state and globally."

The Camp Pendleton project -- described as the largest Long-Duration Energy Storage project in the Department of Defense -- is expected to provide electricity and backup power to the base for up to 14 days if a power outage occurs.

The Naval Base San Diego project will provide the Navy with data regarding the integration of Long-Duration Energy Storage and non-fossil fuel backup systems for 24-hour military operations, according to a statement from the Navy, which called the project "a blueprint for LDES system installations for renewable microgrids at naval facilities."

Meredith Berger, assistant secretary of the Navy and chief sustainability officer, said, "Projects like these build upon the value and benefit of working together on LDES and new technical solutions and serve as a model for installations around the world to increase energy reliability and ensure mission success during unexpected grid conditions and natural disasters."

— City News Service