NEWS RELEASE
Joseph Sweiss
jsweiss@sfwater.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2022
SFPUC Signs Two Contracts for First Long-Duration Energy Storage Projects
The projects will help state electricity grid reliability for CleanPowerSF’s 385,000 customers in San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) community choice energy program, CleanPowerSF, has executed two new agreements to participate in long-duration energy storage through California Community Power – the Tumbleweed Project by REV Renewables, to be located in Kern County, California, and the Goal Line Project by Onward Energy, to be located in San Diego County, California.
The two projects mark the first joint procurement effort that San Francisco is participating in with California Community Power, a group of 10 Community Choice Aggregation programs that procure power for their residents, businesses, and municipalities.
San Francisco’s share of the Tumbleweed Project will provide approximately 11 megawatts of battery energy storage, while its portion of the Goal Line Project will provide 10 megawatts of energy storage capacity. Together, San Francisco’s share of these projects will provide enough energy for about 35,000 average San Francisco residential customers for up to an 8-hour period.
In total, the Tumbleweed Project will provide 69 megawatts of battery energy storage, and the Goal Line Project will provide 50 megawatts.
Long-duration battery storage enables renewable energy resources to supply the grid during more hours of the day. Energy is stored at the time of generation and can be discharged to meet energy demand at a different time. For example, solar energy generated during the day can be stored and discharged at night, when solar generation is low and energy demand is high.
“To effectively combat climate change, we need to transition to cleaner energy,” SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera said. “Battery storage is critical to bringing more clean energy onto the grid, particularly at times when there is high demand and low solar generation. It also ensures greater power reliability for California. Adding the Tumbleweed and Goal Line long-duration energy storage projects to our portfolio is another big step forward as we continue to lead when it comes to delivering clean, reliable, and accessible electricity. The SFPUC has been providing power for over a century, and we’re a leader in sustainable energy. All San Franciscans deserve the benefits of getting their electricity from a local public power provider.”
In recent years, CleanPowerSF has been expanding its battery storage portfolio to extend clean energy benefits to the grid at peak times when fossil fuels are often used to meet electricity demand. Earlier this year, CleanPowerSF executed a contract to add battery storage to the Blythe IV solar project in Riverside County, which provides 62 megawatts of clean power to CleanPowerSF customers. The Tumbleweed and Goal Line projects represent CleanPowerSF’s first long-duration battery storage contracts. To date, CleanPowerSF has over 200 megawatts of battery storage under active contract.
The Tumbleweed Project and Goal Line projects are the first joint procurement effort CleanPowerSF is participating in with California Community Power. California Community Power was established in February 2021 to leverage the combined buying power of Community Choice Aggregators for energy supply, programs, and services. CleanPowerSF became a member in April 2021. Other members include Valley Clean Energy, Sonoma Clean Power, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, San Jose Clean Energy, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Peninsula Clean Energy, MCE, East Bay Community Energy, and Central Coast Community Energy.
CleanPowerSF began serving customers in 2016 with a mission to provide San Francisco residents and businesses with clean, renewable electricity at competitive rates. Today, CleanPowerSF serves about 385,000 customer accounts in San Francisco and offers 50% and 100% renewable electricity service options. Over the past six years, CleanPowerSF has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use by 94% from 1990 levels.
Along with CleanPowerSF, the SFPUC operates Hetch Hetchy Power, which generates and delivers 100 percent greenhouse gas-free energy to more than 4,000 customer accounts, including municipal buildings and facilities, such as City Hall, San Francisco International Airport, schools, libraries and the Muni transit system. Hetch Hetchy Power also provides electricity to some commercial and residential developments, including affordable housing sites. Collectively, the two systems meet over 70 percent of the electricity demand in San Francisco.
About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and meets over 70 percent of the electricity demand in San Francisco. Our mission is to provide our customers with high quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. Learn more at www.sfpuc.org.