Emerson’s bold plan will improve the effectiveness of Catalina Island’s microgrid
October 02, 2015
Catalina Island is a beautiful island positioned about twenty-two miles off of Southern California’s coastline. The small island has a modest population of around 4,000, but during the hot summer months (and warm winter months) thousands of tourists flock to the island in search of peace and tranquility. Catalina runs off of a microgrid that is completely separate from the energy source that powers nearby Southern California cities. Since Catalina exclusively uses their own sources of energy, tourist season proves a challenging task in handling all of the needed energy.
Southern California Edison provides electricity throughout the all of Southern California cities, including Catalina. Southern California Edison has joined forces with Emerson Process Management to implement new a technology that will have Catalina Island’s mircogrid running more efficiently.
One of the main sources of the island’s energy comes from Pebbly Beach Generating Station, which uses a liquefied petroleum gas distribution facility as well as an electric generation facility. There are six major generators on the island that run off of diesel fuel that the Emerson Ovation control system is going to manage together with Southern California Edison. They will also collaborate together on twenty-three micoturbines, a battery storage system and the LPG plant in addition to water treatment facilities.
The main reason for the two companies joining forces is Southern California Edison will be able to get a more precise vision of the generating assets with the help of Emmerson. The new system both companies are creating will go a long way in finding the best ways to produce energy while preserving the lush landscape of the pristine island. Another advantage is that Emerson will help Southern California Edison stabilize the voltage that fluctuates rapidly when tourists flock to the island by boat.
Emerson long ago realized that these types of microgrids are becoming more prevalent in areas that have a bigger population than Catalina Island. The company finds it necessary to find a balance between using traditional fossil fuels and new energy to maximize the effects of a power outage. They have quickly become the leading company in managing the whole scope of microgrid operations.