UCSD Campus Energy Storage
UCSD Campus Energy Storage
Client: UC San Diego
Location: La Jolla, CA
LEI was contracted by CJ Roberts to provide Electrical Design portion for a design-build energy storage project for UCSD. The project was one of the largest, most environmentally friendly, battery-based energy storage systems in the nation. The 2.5 megawatt (MW), 5 megawatt-hour (MWh) system with enough capacity to power 2,500 homes was integrated into the university’s microgrid, which generates 92 percent of the electricity used on campus annually and is considered one of the world’s most advanced microgrids.
LEI performed Site Investigations of the existing campus distribution (switchgear, manholes, duct banks) and telecommunication infrastructure as well as reviewed record drawings to determine the point of connection for the 12kV grid tie-in and the communication and control cabling.
The AC electrical output of the battery containers were connected to (2) 1MVA and (1) 500kVA pad-mounted transformers to step up the voltage to 12kV to connect to the existing campus utility infrastructure. Manufacturer electrical data for the battery containers was used to create an electrical model of the installation using SKM Power Tools for Windows to calculate the contributed fault current, feeder voltage drop, and the overcurrent protective device coordination.
The Construction Drawing set included Site Plan, Power Plan, Grounding Plan, Telecommunication Plans Single-Line Diagram, Communication Single-Line Diagram, Wiring Diagrams, Schedules (Panelboard, Conduit, Box, Equipment, etc.), Trenching Details, Transformer Containment Pad Details, Equipment Elevations. LEI also completed Construction Specification Sections.
LEI provided Construction Administration to attend construction coordination meetings, review electrical submittals, answer Requests for Information (RFIs), perform periodic Site Observations, and prepared As-Built Record Drawings.