SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the
sustainability strategy it released last October and its pledge to
reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2045, San Diego
Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced it is developing two
hydrogen pilot projects, nearing completion of an additional
battery storage facility and will break ground on another, and
launching a vehicle-to-grid pilot program featuring six electric
school buses, among other efforts.
"Getting to a net zero future is the moonshot challenge of our
era and one that the SDG&E team fully embraces," said SDG&E
Chief Executive Officer Caroline
Winn. "SDG&E has worked hard to align our investments
with the climate objectives of local cities, the region and state
and while there is a lot more work to be done, we are seeing many
clean energy innovations emerge, and progress being made toward our
mutual goal of a 100% clean energy future. While we'll continue to
evolve our efforts to reflect stakeholder feedback, regulatory
changes, and technological breakthroughs, I believe we can get
there…one project at a time."
In partnership with local startups and organizations, SDG&E
has advanced a number of hydrogen, energy storage, and electric
vehicle charging infrastructure projects over the past year. (See
fact sheet).
These projects illustrate some of the concrete steps SDG&E
is taking to deliver on its sustainability commitments.
Hydrogen Innovations: SDG&E will begin construction
this year on two hydrogen pilot projects that will test half a
dozen use cases and anticipates putting them into service in
2022.
- The Borrego Springs Green Hydrogen Project will
demonstrate hydrogen's use as long-duration energy storage; a
microgrid asset; and a resource for dispatch by the California
Independent System Operator (CAISO) to support grid
reliability.
- The Palomar Green Hydrogen Systems Project will
demonstrate the blending of hydrogen with natural gas as fuel for
an electric generator, as well as onsite production of green
hydrogen for use as a cooling gas. Additionally, SDG&E will
install its first hydrogen fueling station to support the first
fuel cell vehicles in its fleet.
Energy Storage: Currently, SDG&E owns and operates 13
energy storage projects, totaling about 45 MW of energy storage. To
maximize the use of renewable energy and enhance reliability,
SDG&E expects to have a total of 135 MW of utility-owned energy
storage integrated into the local with the addition of the
following:
- Top Gun Energy Storage in Miramar area of San
Diego (30MW/120MWh): Expected to be operational in
June 2021.
- Kearny Energy Storage in the City
of San Diego (20MW/80MWh): Breaking ground this month
with completion expected in late summer/early fall 2021.
- Fallbrook Energy Storage in unincorporated North San Diego County (40MW/160MWh
facility): Construction is expected to begin late 2021/early
2022.
Clean Transportation: In addition to expanding the EV
charging network through multiple programs, SDG&E is striving
to pioneer vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
- Vehicle-to-Grid Pilot Program: SDG&E
anticipates breaking ground this month on the construction of
bi-directional DC fast chargers at the Cajon Valley Union School
District to support six electric buses.
- Bringing Chargers to Parks and
Beaches: SDG&E kicked off construction on the
first project in its parks and beaches program, which will bring
140 chargers to 22 locations.
- Power Your Drive for Fleets: In March,
SDG&E energized the first EV chargers it installed as part of
its medium and heavy-duty EV infrastructure program, which aims to
serve at least 3,000 vehicles at 300 sites.
"The development and the implementation of clean technologies
have already helped create thousands of high-quality jobs in our
region," said Cleantech San Diego President and CEO
Jason Anderson. "This burgeoning
sector is poised for continued growth, as more companies
like SDG&E take the lead to drive innovations."
"Clean air goes hand in hand with clean energy and clean
transportation," said Rita Redaelli,
executive director of the American Lung Association in California – San
Diego. "We are excited about the prospect of more electric
cars, buses, and trucks on the road, as SDG&E scales up the
charging network in our region."
SDG&E's climate pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2045
covers all emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3), which would eliminate not
only its own direct emissions, but also those generated by
customers. Efforts are already underway, and the company will
seek out more opportunities to collaborate with business and
industry in the communities it serves.
"Our school district has benefitted greatly from the
electrification of our school buses," said Scott Buxbaum, assistant superintendent,
business services, Cajon Valley Union School District.
"Working with SDG&E on the vehicle to grid pilot program, we
will be able to take it a step further by providing energy from the
batteries back to the electric grid, which we can use to benefit
our community during times of high demand and explore ways to save
money."
"SDG&E's announcement aligns with the Port of San Diego's focus on environmental justice,"
said Sandy Naranjo, National City's representative on the Port of
San Diego Board of Port
Commissioners. "I'm also pleased that a working group with
SDG&E and other key environmental and community stakeholders
has been formed to explore how we can put words into action to
further improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on
and around San Diego Bay and throughout our region."
SDG&E is an innovative San
Diego-based energy company that provides clean, safe and
reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in
San Diego and southern
Orange counties. The company is
committed to creating a sustainable future by providing its
electricity from renewable sources; modernizing natural gas
pipelines; accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles;
supporting numerous non-profit partners; and, investing in
innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the
region's infrastructure for generations to come. SDG&E is a
subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). For more information,
visit SDGEnews.com or connect with SDG&E on Twitter
(@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.
B-roll:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mmy2l2asnoxilq5/AABXyE368J38UjpqfAHcO-gDa?dl=0
Fact sheet: www.sdge.com/sustainabilityfacts
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multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sdge-pledges-to-reach-net-zero-ghg-emissions-by-2045-301271116.html
SOURCE SDG&E