Water/Energy Bank "Proof-of-Concept"
The Edmonston Pumping Plant is the largest water pumping plant in the world. Its 12 pumping units totaling 720 MW constitute the largest single electric load in the state. Along with the other three pumping plants that import water into Southern California, it creates over 1,000 MW of electric load.
If the imported water deliveries can be shifted seasonally, it enables a reduction in the state's peak hour electric load. It also can increase renewables penetration by soaking up surplus energy during periods of potential curtailment. While it is not practical to store energy on a seasonal basis, seasonal water storage over a number of months is quite common.
The Water/Energy Bank "Proof-of-Concept" (EPC-16-029) will shift electric load by shifting when imported water is delivered. Pumping will be shifted out of the peak hours in the summer and into the periods of potential surpluses of renewable energy in the fall, winter, and spring months of the year.
Water will be stored in a 500,000 to 1,000,000 acre-foot groundwater bank, the Willow Springs Water Bank (WSWB). It will be pumped out of wells in the summer to supplement imported water deliveries. The extracted water will be replaced in the subsequent non-summer months when there is a potential surplus of renewable energy.
The use of wells also can avoid pumping during peak hours of the day. Wells can be shut off during the evening ramp up. Groundwater pumping can also be maximized in the middle of the day in the winter and spring when a glut of renewable energy may be available. Expected benefits from this project include reduced electric load during the summer ramp up hours. It also increases load during the winter and spring daylight hours when solar energy is expected to be plentiful.
If the "Proof-of-Concept" is successful, it will lead to both Demand Response and increased renewables penetration benefits. These are expected to have significant value to the electric grid and to the Investor Owned Utilities. Additionally, the project will demonstrate optimization of co-locating solar, wind, and hydropower facilities at the groundwater bank, to potentially make the project energy neutral. It can also serve as a template for how other large water aqueduct facilities can use water storage to help meet energy needs.
The project began in the spring of 2017. Significant results are already available. They include how to combine operations of a water/energy bank with a traditional water bank, the best way to store water seasonally, and probabilistic results for how much storage is needed for various levels of load shift.
It was the recipient of a $1.00 M grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program. WSWB is managing the project. Sub-contractors include E3, GEI, HDR, and Water and Energy Consulting. WSWB will be looking for partners among the Investor Owned Utilities once the concept has been proven to assist with and benefit from concept implementation.
Speaker
Mark Beuhler, P.E., MSEE
General Manager
Willow Springs Water Bank
Mr. Beuhler has managed water supply and treatment activities for nearly 40 years, with specific expertise in water quality, desalination, and the water/energy nexus. Currently he is the General Manager of the Willow Springs Water Bank. Previously, Mr. Beuhler was the Assistant General Manager at the Coachella Valley Water District and the West Coast Regional Desalination Technical Lead for HDR. Mr. Beuhler was also in charge of Water Quality for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, responsible for all aspects of water quality source protection, treatment, and maintenance for the majority of the water used by the 18 million people within Metropolitan's service area. He received his Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Tulane University and his Master's in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also a registered Civil Engineer.
The Edmonston Pumping Plant is the largest water pumping plant in the world. Its 12 pumping units totaling 720 MW constitute the largest single electric load in the state. Along with the other three pumping plants that import water into Southern California, it creates over 1,000 MW of electric load.
If the imported water deliveries can be shifted seasonally, it enables a reduction in the state's peak hour electric load. It also can increase renewables penetration by soaking up surplus energy during periods of potential curtailment. While it is not practical to store energy on a seasonal basis, seasonal water storage over a number of months is quite common.
The Water/Energy Bank "Proof-of-Concept" (EPC-16-029) will shift electric load by shifting when imported water is delivered. Pumping will be shifted out of the peak hours in the summer and into the periods of potential surpluses of renewable energy in the fall, winter, and spring months of the year.
Water will be stored in a 500,000 to 1,000,000 acre-foot groundwater bank, the Willow Springs Water Bank (WSWB). It will be pumped out of wells in the summer to supplement imported water deliveries. The extracted water will be replaced in the subsequent non-summer months when there is a potential surplus of renewable energy.
The use of wells also can avoid pumping during peak hours of the day. Wells can be shut off during the evening ramp up. Groundwater pumping can also be maximized in the middle of the day in the winter and spring when a glut of renewable energy may be available. Expected benefits from this project include reduced electric load during the summer ramp up hours. It also increases load during the winter and spring daylight hours when solar energy is expected to be plentiful.
If the "Proof-of-Concept" is successful, it will lead to both Demand Response and increased renewables penetration benefits. These are expected to have significant value to the electric grid and to the Investor Owned Utilities. Additionally, the project will demonstrate optimization of co-locating solar, wind, and hydropower facilities at the groundwater bank, to potentially make the project energy neutral. It can also serve as a template for how other large water aqueduct facilities can use water storage to help meet energy needs.
The project began in the spring of 2017. Significant results are already available. They include how to combine operations of a water/energy bank with a traditional water bank, the best way to store water seasonally, and probabilistic results for how much storage is needed for various levels of load shift.
It was the recipient of a $1.00 M grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Program. WSWB is managing the project. Sub-contractors include E3, GEI, HDR, and Water and Energy Consulting. WSWB will be looking for partners among the Investor Owned Utilities once the concept has been proven to assist with and benefit from concept implementation.
Speaker
General Manager
Willow Springs Water Bank
Mr. Beuhler has managed water supply and treatment activities for nearly 40 years, with specific expertise in water quality, desalination, and the water/energy nexus. Currently he is the General Manager of the Willow Springs Water Bank. Previously, Mr. Beuhler was the Assistant General Manager at the Coachella Valley Water District and the West Coast Regional Desalination Technical Lead for HDR. Mr. Beuhler was also in charge of Water Quality for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, responsible for all aspects of water quality source protection, treatment, and maintenance for the majority of the water used by the 18 million people within Metropolitan's service area. He received his Bachelor's degree in Engineering from Tulane University and his Master's in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also a registered Civil Engineer.