Borrego springs energy storage

What is SDG&E doing in Borrego Springs?

SDG&E is currently upgrading the Borrego Springs Microgrid to operate with 100% clean energy, which is supplied by two local solar farms and ample customer rooftop systems. SDG&E is also converting excess solar energy, which is generated in Borrego Springs, to hydrogen that can be stored on-site and provide reserve energy for up to eight hours.

What is Borrego Springs microgrid?

Borrego Springs Microgrid uses smart grid technology — including local power generation, local energy storage, and automated switching — to create a more robust and resilient grid that can dynamically react to changing environmental and grid conditions.

What is SDG&E doing at the Borrego Springs microgrid?

SDG&E is currently developing several innovative projects to reduce carbon emissions and strengthen community resilience at the Borrego Springs Microgrid. SDG&E is currently upgrading the Borrego Springs Microgrid to operate with 100% clean energy, which is supplied by two local solar farms and ample customer rooftop systems.

How safe is the Borrego Springs Project?

The Borrego Springs project follows all national safety standards and regulations. As mentioned above, when hydrogen fuel is being produced, the process consumes 60 gallons of water per hour. Wastewater will not be fed into the aquifer but sent to a lined evaporation pond on site.

How much hydrogen does a Borrego Springs electrolyzer use?

For the Borrego Springs pilot, the electrolyzer consumes 1 MW to produce 18 kg of hydrogen per hour, while consuming 60 gallons of water per hour. (As a rule of thumb, 1 kg of hydrogen has energy equivalent to one gallon of gasoline.) Hydrogen is stored in 2 tanks, each with a 188 kg capacity.

What challenges does the Borrego Springs microgrid face?

Laurence Abcede, SDG&E Distributed Energy Resources Manager, described the challenges that the Borrego Springs Microgrid presents due to the variability of Solar production, and the variability of demand from residential and commercial customers, including water pumpers in the region.