This week, Los Angeles Times Energy Writer Sammy Roth featured one of our innovative projects – the Borrego Springs Microgrid – in an article titled “California’s Wildfire Threat Could be an Opportunity for Clean-Energy Microgrids.”

Our microgrid project team hosted Roth for a tour of the Borrego Springs Microgrid located in the far eastern reach of San Diego County. Built to enhance the community resilience of the desert town, which is susceptible to extended power outages due to its remote location and extreme weather conditions, the Borrego Springs Microgrid is recognized as one of the world’s most advanced microgrids.

Roth’s story highlights the potential of microgrids as a solution for fire-prone communities, which are increasingly faced with public safety power shutoffs.

The Borrego Springs Microgrid integrates a number of resources, including energy storage, diesel generators, a nearby solar plant, and an ultracapacitor to power Borrego Springs, in the event of electric service disruption. The town is connected to the regional grid via a single transmission line.

To read Roth’s full story, click on this link.

To learn more about the Borrego Springs Microgrid, visit the project web page and watch this video to see how the microgrid has been deployed in real-life situations to minimize or avoid extended power outages.