Author: Schatz Center

  • Introducing the Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium…

    Introducing the Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium…

    A new West Coast collaboration for offshore wind science was announced in Sacramento today. The Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium (POWC) is a joint effort between three research centers: the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University, and the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Together, these universities are housed in and support the coastal communities in California and Oregon which are anticipated to host floating offshore wind development. The POWC (pronounced pow-sea) will enable universities, host communities, and Tribal nations to share resources, co-develop best practices, and design comprehensive research programs that reflect the dynamic nature of the ocean environment and the diversity of community perspectives.

    The consortium will advance three pillars: (i) research and innovation, (ii) university-level workforce education and professional development, and (iii) community and Tribal engagement and knowledge exchange.

    Expertise from three universities

    The Schatz Energy Research Center is located in the Humboldt Bay Area, which is preparing to house one of only two feasible staging and integration ports in California for offshore wind deployment. Humboldt is also home to two wind lease areas, which begin 20 miles offshore and span 207 square miles. Since 2018, the Schatz Center has published over 30 reports on topics ranging from transmission expansion to seabird vulnerability, in an effort to understand the feasibility of offshore wind, and to identify critical environmental and community needs that would be associated with its development. The Schatz Center works in close partnership with Tribal Nations, county services, and state government to design innovative solutions for clean power generation and energy resilience.

    “We are coming together as a consortium because we know we need to take bold action to address climate change, and offshore wind has potential to play an important role. We also know that the transition to clean energy needs to happen in a way that is inclusive, equitable, and environmentally responsible,” says Arne Jacobson, Director of the Schatz Center. “As universities embedded in the regions where offshore wind is proposed, we have a special role to play, and – working in collaboration with partners – we can help generate the knowledge needed to transform our energy system in a way that does right by our communities and the planet.”

    Entrance to Humboldt Bay. Photo by Maia Cheli, 2019.

    Environmental research for offshore wind includes baseline surveys, behavioral assessments, data integration and modeling, monitoring for protected species, planned mitigation, pathways for adaptive management, and transfer of lessons learned. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is home to the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences, which has a history of interdisciplinary, applied research to address a range of management issues for the Central Coast. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo works collaboratively with a variety of interest groups in the Morro Bay Area to promote and design effective environmental monitoring for offshore wind. The Morro Bay Wind Energy Area covers 376 square miles across three wind lease areas.

    “It will be essential that any offshore wind energy projects are developed in environmentally and socially responsible ways,” says Benjamin Ruttenberg, Director of the Center of Coastal Marine Sciences. “While many of the key issues are common across regions, some will be area-specific. The diverse expertise across the POWC institutions, along with their deep understanding of local communities and regional environmental issues, makes this group extremely well-qualified to be a neutral and trusted source to generate and summarize scientific information that can inform and guide the conversations about whether and how to deploy offshore wind.”

    Open house for the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences at the Cal Poly Pier. Photo by Dylan Head, Multimedia Producer @ Cal Poly SLO, 2023.

    The Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC) at Oregon State University brings over 15 years of experience investigating the technical, environmental, and social dimensions of offshore energy, and expanding scientific understanding, engaging stakeholders, and educating students. The Hatfield Marine Science Center at OSU serves as a hub for research on potential ecological effects of offshore renewable energy, while the PacWave test site demonstrates in-water activities and potential issues associated with offshore energy projects, such as seabed surveys, cable laying, construction and operational noise, and electromagnetic fields (EMF). PMEC also conducts significant hydrodynamic and aerodynamic studies of offshore wind platforms at the Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. The State of Oregon is now considering how offshore wind could be incorporated with the environment, existing ocean uses, cultures, and communities, as lease sales for offshore floating wind sites are expected in fall 2024.

    “This consortium will leverage the experience and expertise of the three partner universities and provide consistency of approach to evaluation of offshore wind along the west coast,” says Sarah Henkel, Associate Director of the Pacific Marine Energy Center at OSU. “We are excited that through this consortium we will have additional support to engage with our local communities, continue our regional ecological investigations, focus on development of next generation platform design, as well as collaborate and share findings to build a comprehensive understanding of outcomes related to potential offshore wind deployment.”

    Researchers prepare hydrophones to track movements of tagged Dungeness crabs. Photo by Curtis Roegner (NOAA).

    POWC Advisory Committee

    The POWC will support interdisciplinary understanding across academia, industry, agencies, community organizations, and Tribal Nations. This breadth is reflected in the consortium’s Advisory Committee, which recently convened for its inaugural meeting. As a non-governing committee, the advisory group will provide guidance and advance discussion and collaboration in the offshore wind space. Founding members include representatives from: Tribal Nations: the Hon. Jason Ramos and Heidi Moore-Guynup, Blue Lake Rancheria, Linnea Jackson, Hoopa Valley Public Utilities District, and Michael Gerace, the Hon. Lana McCovey and the Hon. Philip Williams, Yurok Tribe; State agencies: Jenn Eckerle and Justine Kimball, California Natural Resources Agency / California Ocean Protection Council, Katerina Robinson and Jessica Eckdish, California Energy Commission, Andy Lanier, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, and Jason Sierman, Oregon Department of Energy; Federal labs, agencies, and Sea Grant partnerships: Alicia Mahon, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Karina Nielsen, Oregon Sea Grant, Shauna Oh, California Sea Grant and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Eric P. Bjorkstedt, NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Science Division and Department of Fisheries Biology, Cal Poly Humboldt; Philanthropy: Curtis Seymour, AC Strategies; and the Offshore wind industry: Ciara Emery and Joel Southall, RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, LLC, and Laura Nagy and Erik Peckar, Vineyard Offshore.

    “The Blue Lake Rancheria recognises the urgency of the climate crisis and intends to leverage their knowledge and resources to continue to advance clean energy innovations,” says Heidi Moore-Guynup, Director of Tribal and Government Affairs at the Blue Lake Rancheria (BLR). “At the same time, BLR understands the imperative need to coordinate scientific inquiry and research and believes that Traditional Ecological Knowledge must be part of such inquiry. BLR is honored to serve on the POWC advisory committee and looks forward to uplifting the findings of this consortium.”

    “Oregon Sea Grant understands the broad spectrum of challenges and opportunities that floating offshore wind energy brings to the US West Coast. There is a clear and urgent need for regional integration of science and knowledge across many disciplines to enable responsible development of offshore wind energy,” said Karina Nielsen, Director of Oregon Sea Grant. “We look forward to partnering with POWC, our sister Sea Grant programs in California and Washington, the National Sea Grant Offshore Wind Energy Liaison, and other partners to support co-developed research and community education to help our coastal communities and marine ecosystems thrive.”

    Core Team and Advisory Committee members at the Blue Lake Rancheria in April 2024

    POWC funding

    Over $12 million in current grant funding, primarily from state and federal agencies, supports offshore renewables research and project work at the three centers. Additionally, the POWC itself has received commitments for $1.6 million in starting funds from private donors and industry.

    “Growing an offshore wind industry that’s responsible, equitable and inclusive requires sustained commitments and deep collaboration,” said Alicia Barton, CEO of Vineyard Offshore. “We are delighted to support and participate in the new Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium. Anchored by three world-class research institutions, the Consortium will foster meaningful engagement, research and collaboration within the west coast offshore wind industry. Our partnership in this effort reinforces Vineyard Offshore’s dedication to enhancing opportunities for Tribal Nations, underserved communities, and local businesses while preparing students and others for careers in this burgeoning field.”

    “We’re proud to be supporting the world-class research of Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Oregon State University and to contribute to an effort that meets the needs of the Humboldt region,” said Sam Eaton, CEO of RWE US Offshore Wind Holdings. “Community engagement is a core principle of RWE’s approach to developing offshore wind projects, including our Canopy Offshore Wind project off of Northern California. The Humboldt community will help us shape this project as well as the future of offshore wind on the Pacific Coast. Offshore wind will play an essential role in our clean energy future, job creation and local economic development, and the Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium’s work will provide valuable insights into the responsible development of this renewable resource.”

    Contact

    For more information on the POWC and to receive updates, please visit powc.us or contact info@powc.us.

    For more information about the three centers and their research programs, visit:

  • Report: Offshore wind transmission scenarios for Northern California and Southern Oregon

    Report: Offshore wind transmission scenarios for Northern California and Southern Oregon

    We recently released a new report that evaluates potential scenarios for electric grid transmission development to support floating offshore wind along the northern coast of California and the southern coast of Oregon. The scenarios include onshore and offshore (undersea) transmission systems, with interconnections ranging from 7.2 to 25.8 gigawatts of generation capacity. The study encompasses multiple possible wind farm sites between Coos Bay, Oregon and Cape Mendocino, California, including the two currently awarded lease areas located 20 miles off California’s Humboldt Bay, and two Draft Wind Energy Areas near Brookings and Coos Bay, Oregon.

    Because the existing transmission infrastructure in these rural, coastal areas is very limited, major investments will be required to support offshore wind development. This report estimates that transmission infrastructure costs could range from $7.5 billion for a 7.2 gigawatt wind farm to as much as $41.3 billion for a 25.8 gigawatt buildout. For the 7.2 gigawatt scenario, annual system-wide benefits are estimated to be roughly $1.2 billion, when compared to a base case without offshore wind generation. These savings include both production cost savings and greenhouse gas emissions savings; the latter is valued at $72 per metric ton of avoided emissions, based on the EPA’s projected social cost of carbon.

    The report examines combinations of onshore and offshore transmission solutions, utilizing both high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) and high-voltage direct current (HVDC). Estimates also include the costs to deliver wind power to nearby coastal communities. The analysis indicates that coastal communities near wind farms could be connected to the new transmission infrastructure, thereby increasing the reliability and available capacity of electricity in those areas, for only 0.4% to 2.4% of the overall cost of the transmission upgrades.

    This study also includes a preliminary assessment of anticipated permitting challenges related to environmental impacts, land use conflicts, and undersea cable routing. The findings indicate significant variations in permitting difficulty, ranging from low to very high among the various possible routes.

    Because the Pacific offshore wind buildout will take decades to accomplish, the report emphasizes that infrastructure investment decisions made in the early phases must be informed by expected long-term strategies—both to minimize cost and impact, and so that developments do not become stranded. Proactive, regional transmission planning is critical. Likewise, technologies installed today must be designed to adapt to future solutions.

    We recommend next steps including taking a more detailed look at near-term transmission needs for the first phase of offshore wind development; a detailed analysis of transmission routes, land ownership, and rights-of-way; and an assessment of the potential to couple battery energy storage with offshore wind.

    This study was funded by the California Energy Commission and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation of the U.S. Department of Defense, and developed in close collaboration with the Oregon Department of Energy. Technical project partners included the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Quanta Technology, H. T. Harvey & Associates, Mott MacDonald, and Conaway Geomatics.

  • Thursday, Nov 30: Lessons on Climate Communication and Environmental Storytelling with Rosanna Xia

    Thursday, Nov 30: Lessons on Climate Communication and Environmental Storytelling with Rosanna Xia

    • When: Thursday, November 30 from 5:30-7:00 pm (with a book signing to follow the talk)
    • Where: Native American Forum (BSS 162) at Cal Poly Humboldt
    • Who: Everyone is invited to attend this free event!

    “Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.” 

    In this talk, Rosanna Xia will break down how journalists today are writing about climate change, with lessons learned on how to turn complex issues into deeply-felt stories. Xia will also introduce her new book, California Against the Sea, and share insights from her award-winning reporting on sea level rise. 

    Rosanna Xia is an environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she specializes in stories about the coast and ocean. She was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2020 for explanatory reporting, and her work has been anthologized in the Best American Science and Nature Writing series. Her recent book, California Against the Sea, has been praised as a beautiful and revelatory exploration of how we think about the natural world. 

    This event is free and open to the public, and accessible parking and seating is available for the Native American Forum.

    Please contact us at schatzenergy@humboldt.edu or 707-826-4345 for additional accommodations or questions. 

    *** Attention students: Are you interested in learning about environmental reporting as a career? Join us from noon to 1 pm in the Library Fishbowl (2nd floor), for a pizza lunch & professional development workshop with Rosanna Xia. Questions? Email Professor Jennifer Marlow at jjm182@humboldt.edu. ***

    Many thanks to our campus partners for sponsoring this event and supporting conversations around energy, equity, community, and sustainability! Collaborators for this event include faculty and staff in English, Engineering, Environmental Science and Management, Environmental Studies, Journalism, Sustainability, the Cal Poly Humboldt Library, and the Humboldt Sea Level Rise Institute. 

    We also offer deep thanks to Native faculty, staff, and students at Cal Poly Humboldt for sharing their Forum with us for this special event. 

  • Thursday, April 27 @ 2 pm (webinar) — Seabirds in 3D: a new framework for assessing collision vulnerability with floating offshore wind

    Thursday, April 27 @ 2 pm (webinar) — Seabirds in 3D: a new framework for assessing collision vulnerability with floating offshore wind

    REGISTER HERE

    Thursday, April 27 from 2-4 pm (Pacific)

    • Presented by: Sharon Kramer and Stephanie Schneider of H. T. Harvey & Associates, and Eli Wallach and Arne Jacobson of the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt
    • Panelists: Garry George, Director of the Clean Energy Initiative for the National Audubon Society, and David M. Pereksta, Avian Biologist at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

    In order to determine the potential impacts of offshore wind turbines on seabird species, we need to understand species distribution and behavior in three dimensions – not only where birds have been recorded per longitude and latitude, but how they behave in the air column in response to varying wind conditions. For example, seabirds that typically fly beneath the sweep range of a turbine may have different avoidance behaviors than those for whom the blades are in their preferred flight space. Further, birds respond to the wind speed, and adjust their flight height when the wind is strong (and hence turbines are rotating quickly) versus when the air is calm, so there is a conditional dimension to the analysis as well.

    Our 3D seabird interactions study models (a) the abundance of seabirds within rotor swept elevations, and (b) localized offshore wind generation potential. The objective is to identify those areas along the California coast which have a strong generation potential and minimal seabird occurrence.

    • Our model inputs begin with historic at-sea observation data from both vessels and aircraft, and long term spatial covariates, for the US West Coast.
    • Relationships between wind speeds and seabird flight height are then added to create a 3D map of anticipated seabird density.
    • Next, power generation estimates are made using modeled wind resource data generated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for coastal and offshore areas, along with the expected turbine characteristics for 12 and 15 MW turbines.
    • Finally, the performance of various wind farm configurations are compared with seabird abundance using a pareto optimization approach.

    In this talk, we will discuss these methods, which we used to model abundance for forty-four seabird species, and how we simulated wind facility power generation. And, we will explore possible tradeoffs between seabird vulnerability and power generation.

    REGISTER for this webinar

    Additional resources

  • Thursday, April 6 @ 5:30 pm (webinar)– The justice conundrum in coastal adaptation

    Thursday, April 6 @ 5:30 pm (webinar)– The justice conundrum in coastal adaptation

    With Jola Ajibade, Ph.D., of Portland State University

    REGISTER for this webinar

    Next up in our Climate and Clean Energy series, we explore the justice conundrum in coastal adaptation: should we retreat or invest in floating climatopias?

    Dr. Jola Ajibade is an associate professor of geography and a scholar activist who applies both environmental justice and political ecology lenses to study the intersections of climate risk, urban disasters, resilience planning, coastal management, and societal transformations. Broadly speaking, her research focuses on how individuals, communities, and cities respond to global climate change and their different capacities for adaptation and transformation. In her recent research, she examines how climate adaptation solutions such as managed retreat programs, floating cities, tree planting, blue-green infrastructures, and utopian development projects intertwine with exclusionary planning practices to reproduce structural and historical injustices, thereby exacerbating racial, gender, and class-based inequalities and undermining the capacities of marginalized communities to respond to climatic and socio-economic crises.

    In her works, Dr. Ajibade advances ideas about just urban adaptation through embracing feminist, decolonial, and antiracist approaches as well as care ethics that can lead to more just, livable, and sustainable urban futures. Her work also explores unconventional approaches such as partnering with social entrepreneurs, grassroots coalitions, cooperatives, and small businesses in promoting a shareable economy, sustainable lifestyle changes, low-carbon development, and socially just resilience planning in cities. Dr. Ajibade’s work has been featured in many academic journals and media outlets including Science Friday, NPR, Yale Environment 360, Science, New Internationalist, and Vice.

    About the series

    The Climate and Clean Energy Series is sponsored by the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt. All events are free and open to the public.

    For questions or to request technical or accessibility support, please contact schatzenergy@humboldt.edu or call 707-826-4345.

  • SAFE Symposium: March 1, 2023

    SAFE Symposium: March 1, 2023

    We invite you to join us on Wednesday, March 1, for a symposium on Rural & Tribal Community Resilience: Strategies for Action. This in-person event is part of the SAFE project — a collaboration of the Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe, the Karuk Tribe, and the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt.

    This day-long symposium will bring together Tribal leaders and community members, students and researchers, local government and state agency representatives, and others working on efforts related to smoke, air, fire, and energy (SAFE), with a goal of enhancing rural and Tribal climate resilience.

    Communities across our region are facing increased fire risk and worsening air quality while navigating unreliable energy infrastructure. At the state and federal level, there has recently been an influx of funding to address these needs — and to build the related job skills and workforce capacity within local communities. The SAFE symposium will include speaker and panel discussions of clean energy, cultural fire, and air quality; host microgrid tours and a solar training workshop; and support collaborative group conversations.

    This symposium is free and open to the public. It will be held in the Blue Lake Rancheria’s Sapphire Palace from 10 am to 4:30 pm, and will include a complimentary lunch, beverages, and snacks. Hotel information is available via the registration form.

    • Questions? Please contact SAFE project manager Tanya Garcia.

    Working agenda:

    • 9:30 am – Convene
    • 10:00 am – Welcome and opening comments
    • 10:45 am – Presentation: Women’s TREX
    • 11:00 am – Panel discussion: “Living with Fire and Smoke”
    • 11:40 am – Panel discussion: “Safe Air for Everyone”
    • 12:30 pm – Lunch
    • 1:30 pm – Tours, trainings and workshops, and collaborative discussions
    • 3:00 pm – Presentation: “Progress and Opportunities for Microgrids”
    • 3:30 pm – Panel discussion: “Building Community Energy Sovereignty”
    • 4:00 pm – Closing comments

    Lodging:

    Lodging for symposium participants is available at the Blue Lake Hotel at a rate of $90 per night for the nights of February 27 and 28, and March 1 and 2. To make a reservation, please call the hotel front desk at (707) 668-9770 x2881 and request the “SAFE Symposium” group rate.

  • Thursday, February 23 @ 5:30 pm (webinar) — Spent nuclear fuel and sea level rise in Humboldt Bay

    Thursday, February 23 @ 5:30 pm (webinar) — Spent nuclear fuel and sea level rise in Humboldt Bay

    44 Feet: Vulnerabilities, Opportunities, and Strategies for Managing Risk from Sea-Level Rise to Humboldt Bay’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Site

    With Jennifer Marlow and Alexander Brown

    REGISTER for this webinar

    In 2022, the 44 Feet research team conducted a series of workshops with representatives from north coast Tribes, state and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, scientific experts, the nuclear industry, Pacific Gas & Electric, elected officials, community advisory board members, academia, and the general public. The goals of these workshops were (a) to facilitate a common understanding of climatic and environmental risks to the spent nuclear fuel site on Humboldt Bay and (b) share strategies for managing foreseen and unforeseen hazards to public health and safety, in ways that also aim to protect ecological and cultural values prioritized by Humboldt Bay communities and Tribes.

    In deliberating over scenarios that explore a range of probable, unlikely but possible, and desired futures, participants illuminated socially and scientifically relevant action plans that embrace the deep uncertainties underscoring spent nuclear fuel management in the United States. The 44 Feet research team looks forward to sharing the outcomes of these focus groups — many of which highlight optimal pathways for guiding the transition toward a safer and more climate-resilient coastline.

    Jennifer Marlow is Assistant Professor of Environmental Law in the Environmental Science and Management Department at Cal Poly Humboldt and founded the 44 Feet Project. Alexander Brown is a Graduate Research Assistant and Master’s Candidate in the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Science and Management Program at Cal Poly Humboldt. 44 Feet is supported by funding from California Sea Grant and CSU COAST. Learn more at 44feetproject.com.

    About the series

    The Climate and Clean Energy Series is sponsored by the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt. All events are free and open to the public.

    Captioning is provided for all talks. To request additional support, please contact schatzenergy@humboldt.edu or call 707-826-4345.

  • California’s first 100% renewable multi-customer microgrid is now operational

    California’s first 100% renewable multi-customer microgrid is now operational

    PRESS RELEASE: June 7, 2022

    Collaborating for a clean energy future

    California’s first 100% renewable energy, front-of-the-meter, multi-customer microgrid is now fully operational. Located in Humboldt County, California, the microgrid provides energy resilience for the regional airport and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station.

    This microgrid was developed through a first-of-its-kind partnership between the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Pacific Gas & Electric, the County of Humboldt, TRC, The Energy Authority, Tesla, Inc., and Schweitzer Engineering Labs.

    Research and development was supported through a $5 million grant from California’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) — a statewide program which invests in scientific and technological research to accelerate the transformation of the electricity sector to meet the state’s energy and climate goals — and by $6 million from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA), a joint powers agency that provides clean and renewable power to Humboldt County.

    A model for resilient, clean energy

    “The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid (RCAM) has ushered in a new and exciting era for the electric grid in California,” says Peter Lehman, Founding Director of the Schatz Center and project lead. “With its successful deployment and the development of new microgrid agreements and tariffs, RCAM has become a role model and beacon to communities across the state who are striving to green their energy supply and bolster their resilience in the face of climate change.”

    The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid features a 2.2-megawatt solar photovoltaic array that is DC-coupled to a 2 megawatt (9 megawatt-hour) battery energy storage system, comprised of three Tesla Megapacks.

    During standard blue-sky operations, RCAM generates clean and renewable energy for the North Coast, and participates in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) wholesale energy markets, including the day-ahead, realtime, and ancillary services markets. By storing solar energy during the day and releasing it onto the grid as needed in the evening and during heavy demand periods, RCAM enables greater utilization of solar, supports grid reliability, and creates an economic model for future microgrids.

    When a power outage occurs, the microgrid islands from the main grid and energizes the circuit that encompasses the airport, the adjacent Coast Guard Air Station, and several neighboring facilities. RCAM will provide seamless, ongoing electricity for all customers in the microgrid circuit during any local outages.

    As the first microgrid in the CAISO market and the first renewable, front-of-the-meter microgrid system in the state, RCAM is building a replicable business model for renewable microgrid deployment.

    Tesla Megapack batteries

    Meeting critical resilience goals

    The regional California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) is located in McKinleyville, California, and serves the greater North Coast community with over 50,000 flights per year, including commercial airline, private, and emergency medical flights. Adjacent to the airport, the US Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay provides search and rescue for 250 miles of rural coastline, from the Mendocino-Sonoma county line to the California-Oregon border.

    Roads into Humboldt County are frequently closed by fires and mudslides, making air services a critical factor in regional emergency response.

    Cody Roggatz, Humboldt County’s Director of Aviation says that “The California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (ACV) is a lifeline to our community every day by keeping Humboldt County connected to the world alongside our partners at United Airlines, Avelo Airlines, American Airlines, REACH/Cal-Ore Life Flights, US Coast Guard-Sector Humboldt Bay, and many others. RCAM ensures that we can continue to keep that lifeline open through energy resilience, no matter what happens to the power grid.”

    Community microgrids: partnering for resilience

    Deploying multi-customer, front-of-the-meter community microgrids requires close coordination between the microgrid design team, the electric utility, and an electricity generation partner who can energize the microgrid when needed. Because these microgrids utilize circuitry that is owned and maintained by the utility, their control systems must be responsive to utility commands and safety needs, while maintaining a clear delineation between utility-owned and generation partner-owned equipment. Furthermore, participating in the wholesale market requires that the system also be responsive to market signals.

    • Design and development of the RCAM project was led by Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt. The Schatz Center’s microgrid research and development focuses on resilient renewable energy solutions for the California North Coast and beyond.
    • The Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) is the Community Choice Aggregator for Humboldt County, serving 63,000 electric account customers and supporting energy efficiency alongside local, clean and renewable energy solutions. RCEA is responsible for the majority of the Humboldt Bay area’s energy resource procurement, and owns and operates the electricity generation equipment for the microgrid. 
    • PG&E maintains the regional electricity grid, which serves over 16 million people in Northern and Central California, and owns and operates the microgrid circuit.

    “An important success of RCAM was how we were able to work through the complex financial, technical, regulatory, business, and operational hurdles facing this project,” says Dana Boudreau, RCEA’s director of Operations and Infrastructure. “This experience will serve us well as we continue to engage our community in building offshore wind energy, supporting more solar and storage capacity, and developing new community microgrids.”

    Part of a growing trend

    The unique collaboration between RCAM project partners has resulted in both technical and policy innovations. RCAM is the model for PG&E’s Community Microgrid Enablement Program — which provides technical assistance and cost offsets for community microgrid deployment. Additionally, PG&E’s Microgrid Incentive Program, expected to launch later this year, will leverage a $200 million statewide fund dedicated to deploying clean energy microgrids, to support the critical needs of vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities.

    “The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid represents the culmination of many years of research, innovation, and collaboration by the world’s leading microgrid experts.Thanks to their hard work, microgrids now play a key role in PG&E’s ongoing efforts to harden our electrical system and enhance local grid resilience throughout Northern and Central California,” says Jason Glickman, Executive Vice President, Engineering, Planning and Strategy, PG&E. “We know how much our customers and communities need reliable energy, and this system not only increases local reliability, but it serves as the foundation for a replicable and scalable model for widely deploying multi-customer microgrids across PG&E’s service area, giving communities a new tool to take a more active role in securing their resilience and clean energy goals.”

    Next steps for the North Coast

    “RCEA’s goal is to provide our customers with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2025, and 100% local carbon-free electricity by 2030. This project is a major milestone for our clean energy and resilience efforts,” says Matthew Marshall, Executive Director of RCEA. RCEA works closely with schools, fire departments, Native American Tribes, and other local agencies to support community resilience across the North Coast.

    Renewable energy microgrids are uniquely suited to help rural Tribes and other communities adapt to climate change and simultaneously mitigate future climate impacts. The Schatz Center is partnering with a number of Tribes in Northern California to support their clean energy, resilience, and climate response efforts.

    Cal Poly Humboldt also recently began design of a renewable energy microgrid to support campus resilience through clean generation. This microgrid will be part of the university’s sustainability framework, and will enable students in engineering, environmental sciences, and other programs to gain hands-on experience with innovative climate-friendly technologies. 

    More information

    About the Schatz Center

    Since 1989, the Schatz Center has produced groundbreaking, renewable energy solutions that reduce climate change and pollution while increasing energy access and resilience. Located on the campus of Cal Poly Humboldt, the Schatz Center’s research efforts include microgrids, offshore wind, off-grid energy access, carbon life cycles, clean transportation, and more. The Center works closely with state agencies, local government, and Tribal nations in California, as well as with the World Bank Group, CLASP, IKEA Foundation, and others to support international energy access and resilience. Learn more at schatzcenter.org

    About RCEA

    Established in 2003, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority is a local government joint powers agency whose members include the County of Humboldt, the seven cities within the county, and the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The Energy Authority’s purpose is to develop and implement sustainable energy initiatives that reduce energy demand, increase energy efficiency, and advance the use of clean, efficient, and renewable resources available in the region. For more info, visit redwoodenergy.org

    About PG&E

    PG&E, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

    Engineers and students stand inside the solar array field
  • June 22: Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid grand celebration

    June 22: Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid grand celebration

    We invite you to join us on Wednesday, June 22 as we celebrate the completion and successful commercial operation of the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid.

    Join us to learn about:

    • Project innovations: grid integration, energy market participation, and more
    • Next steps for California microgrids, including the Cal Poly Humboldt campus microgrid and Tribal energy resilience programs
    • Workforce development and student training opportunities

    Schedule of activities:

    • 10:00 am — Gates open
    • 10:30-11:30 am — Main event
    • 12:00 pm — Microgrid tour (rsvp required)

    How to attend:

    • Main event: All are welcome! Please park in the main lots (unless otherwise instructed onsite) and then head to the front of the terminal, where staff will be giving directions. The microgrid is located on the south side of the airport along Baadsgaard Avenue. Carpooling is highly recommended to limit site congestion.
    • Noon microgrid tour: We have limited spaces available for a public tour of the microgrid after the main event. Tour registration is available via the Redwood Coast Energy Authority website, where you can also find information about upcoming public tour dates.

    Questions?

    Contact us at schatzenergy@humboldt.edu or call 707-826-4345.

    Partners

    The Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid is California’s first completely renewable, front-of-the-meter, multi-customer microgrid. It is the product of a collaborative partnership between the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, the County of Humboldt, Pacific Gas & Electric, Schweitzer Engineering Labs, Tesla, Inc., TRC, and The Energy Authority. Many local and regional contractors also contributed to this groundbreaking effort. We are grateful for your work, and look forward to celebrating with you all.

    This microgrid project was funded by the California Energy Commission’s EPIC program and the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, and was supported by a loan from the US Department of Agriculture.

    A PG&E technician in a bucket crane works at an illuminated open circuit panel
    Midnight system testing at the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid
  • Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid featured in EPIC report

    Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid featured in EPIC report

    Thanks to the California Energy Commission for its leadership in supporting innovative, clean energy projects across the state! The EPIC program is now entering its 10th year, with over $1 billion in funding to date.

    We’ve been honored to receive support from the CEC’s EPIC program for a number of projects including:

    Learn more about the latest EPIC projects, including the Redwood Coast Airport Microgrid, in this year’s EPIC report…

    We’re grateful to all of our project partners, whose collaboration is the foundation of our success. Special thanks to the Redwood Coast Energy Authority, PG&E, the County of Humboldt, H.T. Harvey & Associates, and the Blue Lake Rancheria for their ongoing commitment to clean energy solutions for the California north coast.

    A Coast Guard helicopter flies above a solar array