Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Battery Energy Storage System

The Miramar Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project was designed to enhance the microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which is about 14 miles north of San Diego, California. This project aimed to reduce energy costs and improve reliability while integrating renewable resources into the existing microgrid. 

Previously, the microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar was designed to optimize energy costs by managing various generation assets, including landfill gas generators, natural gas, and diesel fuel sources. The project installed a 1.5-megawatt, 3.3-megawatt-hour lithium-ion BESS that supported the microgrid’s unique operational requirements and served as a critical new resource, allowing the microgrid to significantly reduce peak electrical demand at lower cost, compared with traditional fossil fuel sources. The microgrid's existing landfill gas generators faced reliability challenges due to intermittent outages caused by poor gas quality. These outages can lead to instantaneous drops in power output, risking demand charge events and power quality issues. The BESS mitigated these risks by providing backup power during outages, enhancing overall system reliability, and reducing reliance on diesel and natural gas generators. 

The BESS was successfully tested and commissioned during a base-wide blackstart exercise. The exercise demonstrated the capability of the BESS to support islanding operations and stabilize generation outputs during unexpected-loss events. The battery has been operational for a year and has successfully demonstrated the ability to consistently reduce demand charges by an average of 962 kilowatts per month. 

Overall, the Miramar BESS project represents a significant step toward enhancing energy resilience, economics, and sustainability at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It also provides valuable insights and lessons learned for future microgrid implementations.