8 minute read
Clever microgrids
GETTING ENERGY SAVVY WITH MICROGRIDS
An American port is working on a novel microgrid project to help fuel some of the port's power needs and cut energy costs in the process, writes Anne-Marie Causer
In response to California's electrification push, the state's largest ports, including San Diego, Los Angeles and Long Beach, are all turning to microgrids for energy security and flexibility of demand.
Swapping diesel-powered trucks for electric models and equipping ships to plug into the grid while at berth offers lifesaving public health benefits by lowering emissions. And because microgrids offer a means of isolating from the main grid, they also substantially increase electricity supply at ports.
The solar powered microgrid project at the Port of San Diego's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT) is expected to cut the terminal's energy costs significantly, while demonstrating integration of all distributed energy resources — including solar, storage, energy efficiency, and demand response, with support for additional electric equipment needs on the terminal into the future.
“This is a cornerstone project which will provide renewable, reliable and resilient power to meet both operational and sustainability goals of the port,” Renee Yarmy, Program Manager for Energy and Sustainability at the Port of San Diego, told GreenPort.
“By adding a microgrid to our terminal we will be able to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
RENEWABLE ENERGY
San Diego's Microgrid project, originally initiated in 2016, is contributing to the redevelopment of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT) to make it modern, clean, and efficient into the future.
The Microgrid Project was conceptualised as a strategy to advance renewable energy at San Diego's terminals as part of implementing the port's Climate Action Plan (CAP) and mitigation measures required by the TAMT Environmental Impact Report. Thanks in large part to the support of the California Energy Commission grant funding program, the port was able to advance the project beginning in 2018, with US$4.9 million in grant funding, augmented by a port match of US$4.4 million, and approximately $200,000 in in-kind services from University of California, San Diego.
“The microgrid is one step toward revitalising the port's electrical infrastructure at TAMT, which is a critical step toward modernising the infrastructure necessary to support future technology advancements and terminal electrification,” Ms Yarmy says.
In addition, with the Port of San Diego being one of the only 17 commercial US Strategic Ports designated to support cargo and vessel operations for the US military's Transportation Command and Military Sealift Command, microgrids will increase the terminal's readiness and provide islanding capabilities.
This will allow critical port infrastructure to remain operational through grid outages, supply critical jet fuel to the San Diego International Airport and provide emergency goods and services to nearby disadvantaged communities in the event of natural or human-caused disasters that all impact an electric grid.
“This investment will allow us to provide technological
advancement and breakthroughs to achieve the state's statutory energy goals. With the installation of the microgrid, we will be able to participate in peak shaving through the use of renewable energy and stored energy, further saving the port money through reduced energy costs,” Ms Yarmy continues.
“Finally, as an environmental champion and mover of goods throughout the world, we plan to develop a model and share lessons learned to encourage commercialisation of microgrid systems at seaport and goods movement facilities globally.”
Ms Yarmy points out that the project should result in a saving of 360 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.
The project components include the installation of energy efficient site lighting which include converting high-mast high pressure sodium lights to LED technologies integrating a 700- kilowatt/2,400 kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery energy storage system and installing a 700-kilowatt rooftop solar PV array, all of which contribute to the port's Climate Action Plan goals.
San Diego has recently been seeking bids from companies to build the infrastructure for the grid.
The winning contractor will need to coordinate with a solar contractor that will be installing a photovoltaic array on a warehouse at the terminal being interconnected with the storage project, the closing date for bids was mid-June 2020.
EMBRACING ELECTRIC
Ms Yarmy says that the port's tenants and operators were early adopters of zero emission vehicles and equipment, such as electric forklifts, yard tractors and on-road drayage trucks and the port is continuously supporting and encouraging the use and advancement of these technologies along its 'Working Waterfront'.
8 San Diego’s
Microgrid project is contributing to the green redevelopment of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal (TAMT)
“As the market for these technologies advance and the regulatory environment shifts, it is our goal to prepare the infrastructure to support freight electrification and improve air quality for our nearby communities,” she says.
Earlier this year the port and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) hosted an event at TAMT to announce the kick off of CARB's Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive (CORE) Project, which offers companies up to US$500,000 in vouchers to buy or lease cleaner energy versions of equipment such as forklifts, cranes, cargo loaders and terminal tractors.
The project provides additional money if the businesses use the zero-emission equipment in communities designated as disproportionally burdened by high levels of air pollution.
SHORE POWER
The microgrid project aligns neatly with the port's shore power provisions and ambitions for the future.
one of the first ports on the West Coast to implement the technology. It has successfully completed two installations, one in 2010 at its cruise ship terminal for passenger vessels and the other in 2014 at the TAMT to provide power to vessels with refrigerated cargo containers.
San Diego has future plans for additional shore power infrastructure for its cruise ship and cargo terminals.
“As we evaluate the feasibility of shore power at our cargo terminals, we are also considering carbon capture technologies that filter out harmful pollutants. We continue to evaluate the
larger ecosystem of electrification at our terminals which will support vehicles, equipment, and vessels,” Ms Yarmy says.
She adds that the port continues to collaborate with our industry leaders, government, and academic peers to evaluate new vessel electrification technologies that might be implemented within the Port of San Diego.
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
Since 2008, the port has implemented numerous energy efficiency projects.
To date, the port has implemented projects resulting in a 28% reduction in energy consumption (approximately 1770 MWh) across port facilities with an estimated US$10 million in utility costs avoided.
In 2018-2019 alone, the port reduced its electricity consumption by 280,000 kilowatt hours annually by converting over 1,000 interior and exterior lights to LEDs.
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In addition, through its Green Business Network, a voluntary sustainability program for port tenants that provides free education and resources to waterfront businesses committed to reducing the port's collective carbon footprint, it has helped to reduce an estimated 18 million kilowatt hours and two million therms since 2010.
Each year the port sets and measures environmental goals to ensure that San Diego Bay remains a vibrant resource for visitors and residents.
In December 2013, the port adopted a Climate Action Plan, which establishes goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 10% by 2020, which it exceeded in 2016 with a 13% reduction and 25% by 2035. In addition, it is currently updating its Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals to align with state targets for 2030 (40%) and 2050 (80%) greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
“The regulatory environment which governs freight is shifting requirements toward zero emission vehicles and freight equipment on our terminals,” says Ms Yarmy.
“The port's role over the next five years will be focused on developing the internal processes and external policies to advance zero emission operations and preparing the
Rope-, Motor-, Hydraulic-Grabs
infrastructure to support this transition. These efforts will ultimately lead to drastic GHG and criteria air pollutant reductions.”
This transition will include, she says, installing electric charging and shore power infrastructure at the terminals, planning for the transition of the port's fleet to alternative fuel vehicles, continuing progress on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects,
installation of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure and continued work on sustainable business operations through the port's Green Business Network program.
The port is also working regionally to explore a carbon offset programme, which includes evaluating the region's natural resources ability to sequester carbon.
8 The port was an
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