Schneider Electric has won a $5.2 million contract to provide a microgrid for the
This project will create a microgrid at the Port's critical response facility, the JCCC. Key features include photovoltaic energy production, stationary battery energy storage, mobile battery energy storage, and a microgrid controller.
The microgrid design is complete and construction started March 08, 2022. Two of the energy storage battery banks have been assembled. A workforce development study has begun that will identify the workforce needs for supporting a microgrid. The outputs of the study will be used by a community college to develop microgrid training packages. Initial cyber-security development work has explored various system configurations to address operational user needs, real-time system communication requirements, and protective features.
The Port of Long Beach is implementing a zero-emissions future and the Port-wide electrical load is expected to quadruple. Without energy management, the difference between base load and peak load will widen and strain the utility grid. Increased reliance on electricity adds risk to marine terminal operations with electricity cost price uncertainty. In addition, a single point of failure, such as a grid outage, could result in millions of dollars per day of damage to the economy and leave the Port's Joint Command and Control Center (JCCC) emergency response facility reliant on diesel generated emergency electrical power.
This project will create a microgrid at the Port's critical response facility, the JCCC. Key features include photovoltaic energy production, stationary battery energy storage, mobile battery energy storage, and a microgrid controller. Both batteries will provide grid services, such as demand response and peak shaving, during regular operation of the utility grid. During widespread outages or emergencies, the microgrid will support the JCCC, which coordinates response to emergencies. The mobile battery will act to extend the microgrid as a zero-emission generator that can be deployed where needed, such as stormwater pump stations and refrigerated container yards.
The project has several innovations, including the ability to allow for direct DC transfer of energy from the PV system to the battery, significantly improving the efficiency of the stored energy, and testing charge and discharge strategies for the mobile battery to support load reduction during normal operations and providing support power to various distributed critical loads in an emergency.
The Port microgrid will reduce load during normal operations, which will lower the Port energy costs. Smart load management reduces peak power demand on the utility grid, lowering Port electricity bills.
The Port microgrid will add stationary energy storage and demand response capabilities, allowing the Port JCCC to respond to utility signals and reduce demand during peak periods. Strategic load shaving in response to utility signals improves the reliability of utility grid services, particularly during times of peak demand.
The Port microgrid will provide important ride-through capabilities during a power outage, allowing the Port JCCC to maintain uninterrupted operations as the microgrid switches to islanded mode. Additionally, the solar PV system mitigates against fuel supply risk in an emergency, allowing for long-term all-renewable operations.
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) - University of California, Irvine
Long Beach Community College District
Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc.
South Orange County Community College District
Build Momentum (d.b.a. Momentum)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Microgrid Knowledge newsletter article describing the project.
Schneider Electric has won a $5.2 million contract to provide a microgrid for the nation''s second busiest port, the Port of Long Beach in the city of Long Beach, California.
Microgrids provide a way for ports to minimize use of diesel generators, their common form of power backup. Ports are seeking cleaner options as they pursue new energy and environmental goals. For example, the Port of Long Beach — which calls itself ''The Green Port'' — is working to become a zero-emission operation.
"Ensuring a stable supply of energy is crucial to the zero-emissions future the Harbor Commission envisions for the Port of Long Beach," said Tracy Egoscue, president of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners.
Because of their ability to island, microgrids offer a way for ports to secure electricity supply even if a power outage occurs on the central grid. Reliable electricity is crucial to major ports given the volume of business they do. The 3,200-acre Port of Long Beach handles $194 billion in cargo per year. It has 140 shipping lines with connections to 217 seaports.
The microgrid will bolster energy resilience for the port''s critical response facility, the Joint Command and Control Center (JCCC), which functions as the port''s hub for security.
"Across all industries and public entities, there is increasing demand to bolster energy resilience to support business continuity at critical facilities. The plans of the Port of Long Beach illustrate the foresight required to augment ongoing electrification efforts with resilience," said Mark Feasel, vice president, smart grid & microgrid, Schneider Electric.
As part of the project, Schneider will help compile and analyze 12 months of performance data to ensure the microgrid moves the port towards its energy resilience goals.
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The demonstration project will integrate distributed energy resources and microgrid controls, including:
The port will serve as a site for federal, state, and local response agencies to visit and learn about microgrids. Schneider Electric will develop a "lessons learned" guidebook about the project to support replicability and commercialization of microgrids — part of the goal of CEC grant program.
As part of the project, Schneider also will undertake local workforce development with Long Beach City College and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
The announcement comes as a growing number of airports, ports and other transit centers are developing — or already operating — microgrids. These include the Port of Los Angeles, The Port of San Diego, San Diego International Airport and the Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport in California; the Pittsburgh International Airport in Pennsylvania, the Chattanooga Airport in Tennessee, and Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.
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Elisa Wood is the editor and founder of EnergyChangemakers . She is co-founder and former editor of Microgrid Knowledge.
The Port of Long Beach has begun construction of its microgrid demonstration project which will provide electricity for its security headquarters.
About Long beach microgrid projects
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