IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - Grid Edge 2023 - 101

During the last few years, California utilities have initiated
research on non-diesel alternatives to address reliability
concerns due to PSPS outages. Mobile energy storage
systems have been a promising alternative - a technology
recently explored by California utilities by engaging in
pilot programs, implementing, and verifying the technology
in the field.
PSPS outages are planned outages initiated by utilities
for specific areas in the system. Utilities power up community
centers (acting as shelters or community resilience
hubs) to provide electricity and basic needs during the
blackout to support communities.
Figure 4 shows an example of a PSPS outage management
use case, with a host site (utility fleet) distanced properly
from different community centers where the MESS
can be recharged from clean energy resources or the utility
grid. During PSPS, MESS fleet is dispatched to provide
clean and quiet backup power for up to 72 hours in worst
cases. Outside of fire season, MESS can be utilized for
peak shaving or renewable smoothing while connected to
the grid or for scheduled maintenance outages at different
system locations.
As part of a demonstration project in southern California,
it was shown that a typical 1 MWh unit (packaged in
a 20-foot container) was able to supply three community
centers for multiple days, depending on the loading of the
centers. Utilizing a fleet of MESS, the unit need be dispatched
back to the host site for recharge and get ready for
serving the next event. Key element of the MESS technology
is the mobility aspect to provide ability of frequent relocation
through backcountry roads with no permit requirement
- by having roadworthiness consideration built into
the design of the unit that properly meet the department
of transportation (DOT) and regional bylaws (typically
imposing certain weight and dimension restrictions). Roadworthy
design is essential for enabling stacked applications
for becoming parts of outage mitigation, scheduled maintenance
support of asset upgrade projects and any other seasonal
use cases. Figure 5 and Figure 6 show pictures of a
MESS during transportation and while parked on customer
premises respectively.
Scheduled Outage for Maintenance
Another key use case for MESS is supplying customers
during an outage caused by scheduled maintenance of the
electric system. Utilities frequently conduct maintenance
outages on their system to improve asset health such as
replacement of old/stressed cables and services transformers
to ensure the reliable and safe delivery of energy
to customers. The frequency and location of maintenance
Drought/
Heat Wave
Flooding
U.S. 2021 Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters
Severe Weather
Hail
Hurricane
Tornado
Outbreak
Western Wildfires
2021
Central Severe Weather
July 8-11
Midwest Derecho
and Tornado
Outbreak
December 15
California Flooding
and Severe Weather
January 24-29
Western Drought
and Heat Wave
2021
Texas and Oklahoma
Severe Weather
April 27-28
Texas
Northwest, Central, Eastern
Winter Storm and Cold Wave
February 10-19
Hail Storms
April 12-15
Hurricane Nicholas
September 14-18
Louisiana
Flooding
May 17-18
Southern Tornadoes
and Southeast Severe
Weather May 2-4
Hurricane Ida
August 29-September 1
This Map Denotes the Approximate Location for each of the
20 Separate Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters that Impacted the United States in 2021
figure 2. 2021 U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters. Source: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/mapping
April 2023
ieee power & energy magazine
101
Wildfire
Winter Storm/
Cold Wave
North Central
Severe Weather
August 10-13
Central
Severe Weather
June 24-26
Ohio Valley Hail Storms
June 17-18
Southeast, Central
Tornado Outbreak
December 10
Eastern Severe Weather
March 27-28
Southeast Tornadoes
and Severe Weather
March 24-25
Tropical Storm Fred
August 16-18
Tropical Storm Elsa
July 7-9
https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/mapping
IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - Grid Edge 2023

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