SDG&E to Build 3 New Lithium-Ion Energy Storage Facilities with 161 MW Capacity in California

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) authorized San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to build three new energy storage facilities totaling 161MW/644MWh in order to provide the state with greater capacity to meet high energy demand on summer days and at night after solar power dissipates.

Altogether, these new projects will be able to provide enough capacity to meet the energy needs of more than 100,000 homes for up to four hours.

Like other energy storage projects owned and operated by SDG&E, these new facilities will be connected to the state energy market, meaning the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) will be able to dispatch them any time they are needed to balance demand and supply on the grid statewide.

“Investing in advanced technologies like energy storage is critical to advancing our state and region’s aggressive climate goals, including getting to net zero greenhouse gas emissions, with the added benefit of making the energy grid more resilient,” SDG&E Vice President of Energy Innovation Miguel Romero said. 

Battery storage works by capturing renewable resources like wind and solar when they are abundant during the day, then sending that energy back to the grid when it is needed.