Irvine Ranch Water District is working with Advanced Microgrid Solutions to install the nation’s largest network of energy storage systems ever installed at a public water agency. This award-winning project enables the district to store energy, making it available when demand for power from the grid is at peak levels and the cost for electricity is higher. Drawing from these stored energy sources saves the district more than $500,000 a year in energy costs and helps to ease the overall burden on the grid when demand is high.
The pumping, treatment and distribution of water accounts for nearly 20 percent of the total electricity consumed in California, according to the California Energy Commission. IRWD’s Energy Storage Project helps to ease peak energy demands, decrease energy costs for the district and reduce its overall carbon footprint.
The 6.5 MW/35.7 MWh network will use Tesla batteries installed at 6 of IRWD’s largest and most energy-intensive facilities: two water recycling plants, three water treatment plants and six high-energy pumping stations. These energy storage systems will be linked together as a network, providing real-time tracking and operational flexibility in responding to Southern California Edison requests for demand reduction.
IRWD is a national leader in sustainability and energy efficiency. In 2015, the district commissioned a groundbreaking study to examine the average amount of energy needed to transport, treat and deliver water to customers on a per unit basis (kWh/AF). Each facility – a pump station or treatment plant, for example – has its own “energy intensity.” The study provides IRWD with a complete view of its water-related energy use and will be paired with the energy storage systems to better evaluate and reduce the district’s energy consumption and costs. This is the first instance of a public water agency actively commissioning such research.
Week of Jan. 7, 2019:
Major construction activities at all sites is completed. Southern California Edison has inspected each of the sites and issued authorization to operate. Testing and commissioning will take place over the next month to fine-tune operations.
Week of Nov. 19, 2018:
Limited startup and commissioning tests are underway at the Irvine Desalter PTP facility, and Lockheed Martin batteries were installed at the Baker Water Treatment Plant, where interconnection should occur next week.
Week of Nov. 12, 2018:
Lockheed Martin batteries were delivered to the Baker Water Treatment Plant, and a metering panel is being ordered to perform a shutdown associated with the installation of the system. Plans for a solar power system are being developed to enhance the energy storage system at Baker.
Week of Oct. 29, 2018:
Installation of battery packs has been completed at the Irvine Desalter Plant, desalter wells 21 and 22 and Los Alisos Water Recycling plant. Installation at the Baker Treatment Facility will occur next week. All four of the remaining energy storage systems are scheduled for completion by December. Design for a solar power system at the Baker Plant is underway and expected to be completed in February.
Week of Oct. 15, 2018:
Batteries will be delivered Oct. 17 to the Irvine Desalter PTP facility. Power was shut down last week to make the electrical interconnection at Wells 21 and 22, and a shutdown of power is scheduled for this week for the interconnection at the Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant. Lockheed Martin batteries will be delivered to the Baker Water Treatment Plant next week.
Week of Sept. 10, 2018:
The subgrade for the battery packs at the Irvine Desalter PTP facility is being prepared, and the plant will be de-energized on Oct. 9 for construction work. Tesla battery packs were delivered last week to Wells 12 and 22 treatment plant. Electrical requirements are being reviewed at the Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant to minimize trenching for conduits. Underground excavation has begun at the Baker Water Treatment Plant to construct the battery platform.
Week of Aug. 27, 2018:
Construction continues at the Irvine Desalter PTP, Wells 21 and 22 Treatment Plant and LAWRP, and battery packs for each site are scheduled for delivery later this month. All three sites are anticipated to be placed into service in October. Construction at the Baker Water Treatment Plant is expected to start in mid-September.
Week of Aug. 12, 2018:
Construction has started at the PTP and 21/2 WTP site. at MWRP, a customer portal is being set up so staff can monitor performance of the battery system. Construction at LAWRP began this week, and partners are in discussion on the project for the Baker Water Treatment Plant.
Week of July 30, 2018:
The energy storage system at the Michelson Water Recycling Plant went online on Aug. 1 and started charging and discharging batteries. Pre-construction work is ongoing at other locations.
Week of July 23, 2018:
Design and construction activities for the remaining energy storage system sites is ongoing, with the design of the Baker site now completed. Pre-construction meetings are scheduled next week for the LAWRP, Potable Treatment Plant, and Wells 21 and 22 Desalter facilities. Final testing of the batteries at the Michelson Water Recycling Plant is underway.
Week of June 4, 2018:
Pre-construction meetings have been scheduled, and work is to begin at the PTP and 21/22 WTP sites in the next few weeks. Plans for an installation at LAWRP are still under review. Energy generation projects at Baker WTP are ongoing and design drawings are being reviewed.
Week of May 21, 2018:
The commissioning process has commenced at the Michelson Water Recycling Plant facility. Construction of the battery systems at Wells 21 and 22 and Potable Treatment Plant will begin within the next month, with construction of the LAWRP system beginning shortly thereafter. A photovoltaic system is being designed at the Baker water treatment plant to interconnect with the battery system. Construction at Baker will begin in October.
Week of May 14, 2018:
The startup and commissioning process has begun for the MWRP site. A preconstruction meeting for the PTP/WTP project will be scheduled soon. Biweekly communication on the Baker portion of the project has commenced.
Week of April 23, 2018:
A preconstruction meeting will be scheduled in a couple of weeks for the PTP/WTP site, and staff is collecting data on design and schedule constraints for the Baker treatment facility.
Week of April 09, 2018:
Advanced Micro Systems and Tesla have started the commissioning process, which will take several weeks.
Week of April 5, 2018:
Batteries have been delivered and connected. Tesla arrived in late March to begin testing and commissioning. The next facility designated for the Energy Storage system will be the Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant, with construction to start in May.
Week of Feb. 19, 2018:
Tesla battery packs are scheduled to arrive at the Michelson Waster Recycling Plant in early March.
To date, the systems have been installed at the following locations:
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