10/20/2023
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) engineers are spearheading the installation of cutting-edge microgrid systems, which are poised to permanently replace overhead distribution lines in remote regions of California. This groundbreaking initiative, in collaboration with engineering firm Cushing Terrell and the expertise of ELM MicroGrid, represents a pivotal step forward in ensuring resilient and secure energy infrastructure.
The microgrid project stands as a cornerstone of PG&E's crucial line hardening program, meticulously designed to fortify the electric-power grid's dependability while mitigating the looming threat of wildfires in high-risk zones such as the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Sierra Nevada foothills, and the Central Valley. This innovative program assesses potential locations where, instead of employing conventional line hardening techniques, the utility opts for a transformative approach, opting to completely replace the existing lines with a cutting-edge microgrid system at the point of consumption.
Read Nathan Bronec’s blog from Cushing Terrell about the project:
https://cushingterrell.com/swapping-distribution-lines-for-microgrids-an-energy-solution-for-remote-areas/
The featured image shows the ELM MicroGrid prior to its journey to California!