The Port of Long Beach began work this week on a $12.2 million microgrid demonstration project that is expected to provide reliable power in a sustainable way to the port’s Joint Command and Control Center.
The microgrid, which was partly funded a $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission, will be outfitted with a 300-kilowatt photovoltaic solar panel array that will power the port’s security base with a link to Jacobsen Pilot Services, as well as an energy control center and a 250-kilowatt stationary battery energy storage system, the port said.
It’s also expected to help the port save $60,000 in electricity costs annually, the port added.
“It is vital that we improve energy resilience as we move toward zero-emission equipment that will allow us to enhance air quality while moving a record number of cargo containers,” Port Executive Director Mario Cordero said. “Our move toward large-scale energy resilience in the future will benefit the surrounding communities by taking power demand off the utility grid, especially during extreme heat events when rolling blackouts occur.”
The project is anticipated to be commissioned in November.
