SDG&E unveils 30 MW Li–ion facility

SDG&E (San Diego Gas and Electric), a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, has inaugurated its Escondido 30 MW/120 MWh battery energy storage facility.

Last year, the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) directed Southern California investor-owned electric utilities to fast-track additional energy storage options to enhance regional energy reliability. In response, SDG&E expedited ongoing negotiations and contracted with AES Energy Storage to build two lithium–ion facilities totalling 37.5 MW, the 30 MW facility in Escondido and a 7.5 MW installation in El Cajon.

The installations employ AES’s Advancion technology, with the Escondido facility consisting of 400 000 individual batteries in nearly 20000 modules and placed in 24 containers.

By 2030, SDG&E expects to have more than 330 MW of energy storage on the system, helping accommodate renewables.