Storage is Critical to Our Clean Energy Future
Who is EnerSmart Storage?
EnerSmart Storage (www.enersmartstorage.com) is a San Diego-based battery storage innovator investing in solutions to support California’s clean energy transition. EnerSmart develops, owns and operates energy storage projects to help keep the lights on by balancing electricity production and consumption minute by minute during daily peaks and grid-straining events.
Formed in 2019, EnerSmart has eight storage projects in various stages of development and operation in San Diego County totaling 125 megawatts.
Where is the project?
EnerSmart’s project site is located adjacent to a residential neighborhood at 2424 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine, Calif. The SDG&E Alpine substation is located at 1237 S. Grade Rd., approximately two miles from the project site. The project will interconnect to existing SDGE infrastructure near the site to provide voltage support.
What is the project’s purpose?
- The EnerSmart renewable energy storage facility will primarily provide stabilizing services for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) which oversees the state’s electrical grid. The stabilizing services balance electricity production and consumption minute by minute during daily peaks and when the grid is strained. The project specifically balances the electricity available to and needed by the SDG&E Alpine substation. It will also store low-cost, renewable energy like midday solar or late-night wind energy and dispatch it back to the grid when demand for electricity peaks between 4 and 9 p.m. and during heat waves, wildfires or other grid-straining events.
Who does the project benefit?
- The project benefits CAISO by helping reduce the likelihood of brownouts or blackouts for the Alpine residents and businesses served by electricity that passes through the SDG&E Alpine substation.
When electricity consumed by those served by the SDG&E Alpine substation exceeds electricity available from the transmission system, imbalances result that can harm electricity infrastructure and, if not corrected within seconds, trigger brownouts and ultimately blackouts. As a result, CAISO contracts with reliable battery storage providers like EnerSmart to provide stabilizing services and clean energy storage to maintain grid resiliency as California transitions to a clean energy future.
How does the project benefit Alpine residents and businesses?
- In addition to clearer air and fewer greenhouse gas emissions, the project helps keep the lights on by reliably balancing electricity production and consumption minute by minute during daily peaks, as well as when the grid is strained. This reduces the likelihood of brownouts or blackouts for the Alpine residents and businesses served by electricity that passes through the SDG&E Alpine substation.
Battery storage is critical to California’s clean energy future because it provides reliable and instant electricity to the grid when renewable sources like wind and solar are unavailable or insufficient to meet demand. This is increasingly important because California is on its way to achieving 90% clean energy by 2035 and 100% by 2045.
How does this project support the City of Alpine’s priorities?
- EnerSmart’s battery energy storage project supports the City of Alpine’s sustainability planning in accordance with San Diego County's 2018 Climate Action Plan. This plan calls for collaborative approaches between public agencies and businesses as well as using battery storage to provide efficient and reliable power.
EnerSmart’s battery solutions also support California’s measure to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2045 and 90% clean energy by 2035. Battery storage is critical to California’s clean energy future because it provides reliable and instant electricity to the grid when renewable sources like wind and solar are unavailable or insufficient to meet demand.
What is the project’s storage capacity?
- The project’s capacity is 6 megawatts or 24 megawatt hours (MWh).
Will this project be safe for the neighborhood?
- EnerSmart’s storage projects prioritize safety. The Alpine site will use lithium iron phosphate batteries, a chemically and thermally stable battery technology that is:
- Emissions-free
- Emits no radiation
- Non-toxic
- Non-contaminating
- Contains no rare earth metals including cobalt or heavy metals
This is the same battery technology used to power some types of electric school buses because of its safety performance. [add details from OCA or HMA re: hazard mitigation in the event of a failure?]
What will the project look like?
- EnerSmart designs attractive fencing and landscaping (where permitted) to blend projects into the surrounding community. Whenever possible, native plants, rocks and other such low water-use features are used in landscape designs to beautify projects and complement neighborhoods.
The Alpine project will feature six containers measuring 30 x 8 x 9 feet on approx. 6,500 sq. ft. of land. The site will be fenced and screened with materials and landscaping that are appropriate to the context of the neighborhood and meet the criteria provided by the City of Alpine. A 10-foot sound barrier will be installed along the western, northern and eastern property lines that neighbor existing residences which will keep noise levels at the property line below city required decibel levels.
In keeping with aesthetics of the surrounding residential neighborhood (see renderings), EnerSmart will use an attractive stone composite for the 10-foot masonry walls utilized on site. Wrought iron will be used on the southern side of the property per city standards. There will be no overhead power lines from the site as they’ll be undergrounded to interconnect the storage facility with the nearby SDG&E Alpine substation.
What will the project sound like?
- EnerSmart takes care to mitigate occasional battery sound and comply fully with local noise ordinances. The project’s battery systems emit sounds when in use, which is typically for very short periods and mostly during the day when electricity demand is high. EnerSmart’s sound mitigation designs include barriers to enclose and deflect sound away from residential neighbors. Individual battery storage enclosures around each unit also help to contain noise. EnerSmart invests in sound studies during the project design phase to determine the impacts and determine effective mitigation measures.
Other than construction, what impact will the project’s operation have on the neighborhood?
- In addition to providing a more stable electric grid for Alpine residents and businesses, the project will not create any additional traffic or parking issues. All operations will be conducted remotely, with the exception of occasional on-site maintenance which can be completed using existing street access and parking. The site will be fully secured with perimeter fencing and 24/7 camera security. [add site lighting details? Lighting will be BUG rated and wont contribute to light pollution; site lights will only activate when movement is detected.]
Who approved this project?
- The project is an approved use of the land under the City of Alpine’s zoning. Our Site Development Plan is subject to a design review by the TBD Design Review Board which reviews and approves development plans for compliance with the Urban Design Program.
What is the project’s zoning?
How much will this project cost SDG&E ratepayers?
- This project will not cost SDG&E ratepayers anything. EnerSmart finances, owns and operates this project, so it’s fully responsible for all project costs.
When will this project start construction and how long will it last?
- Construction is slated to begin in Q1 2025 with an expected completion date of Q2 2025.
I have a question that wasn’t answered. How can I get in touch?
- EnerSmart works withthe community to listen to and address concerns where it can. The best way for local residents or businesses to get in touch with additional questions is via email. We look forward to hearing from you at community@enersmartstorage.com.
