California Energy Commission Awards $50 Million for Groundbreaking Energy Storage Projects at Camp Pendleton and Naval Base San Diego

The Department of the Navy (DON) is aligning with California’s ambitions for clean energy through significant grants aimed at advancing Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) solutions. These initiatives are crucial for reinforcing energy resilience at Navy and Marine Corps bases in the state.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Chief Sustainability Officer Meredith Berger expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. “These projects signify a shared commitment toward a stronger, cleaner future,” she stated, highlighting the alignment with California’s energy transition goals and the readiness of military missions.

Since 2016, the DON has been at the forefront of renewable energy technology in collaboration with the California Energy Commission (CEC). Recent projects at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Naval Base San Diego represent vital public-private partnerships, with investments of $42 million and $8 million respectively.

David Hochschild, CEC Chair, emphasized the importance of such projects. “Transforming how we capture and store excess power is key to California’s clean energy future,” he said, noting the role of the military in accelerating market reach for essential technologies to combat climate change.

The Camp Pendleton project will contribute 400 MWHs of energy storage and can power Marine operations for up to 14 days during outages. This project stands as the largest LDES initiative in the Department of Defense, showcasing a model of defense community innovation.

Berger highlighted the benefits of these storage systems, including improved energy management, enhanced operational continuity, and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. These advancements underscore the federal-state partnership commitment to national clean energy leadership.

The Naval Base San Diego project aims to enhance resilience and provide insights into LDES integration for military operations, improving solar microgrid capabilities and sustaining critical operations amid grid uncertainties and natural disasters.

“The collaborative efforts on projects like these serve as blueprints for enhancing energy reliability and mission success globally,” added Berger, thankful for the enduring partnership with CEC in supporting national security and climate readiness. These projects continue to underline the long-term value of such alliances.