Saving Power for Tomorrow
Saving Power for Tomorrow
Energy Storage has become a focal point within the industry as its potential for transforming the grid and reducing carbon emissions becomes more economically feasible. As a full-service energy market expert, IEC provides all phases of energy storage services, from initial market assessment through turnkey engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, for utility-scale and commercial energy storage projects.
As a turnkey energy storage contractor, IEC designs and installs energy storage projects for multiple technologies, including battery energy storage systems for utilities, commercial clients, and school districts. Our contracting team conducts permitting, design, and engineering and executes project implementation, including construction, installation, and commissioning to achieve commercial operation.
Center Peaker Battery Energy Storage (BES) Project (10MW)
Owner: Southern California Edison
IEC was contracted to provide complete design services for a Battery Energy Storage project owned by Southern California Edison (SCE). For the Center Peaker Battery Energy Storage Project, IEC was the Engineer of Record (EOR) and provided detailed engineering services for civil/structural, electrical, and mechanical. IEC’s scope of work included developing and designing complete permit and construction packages which required us to develop a project design criteria and work closely with the owner, equipment suppliers, and construction contractor to ensure all project requirements were met. The project was approved by both SCE and the local building department and became operational early 2017. The battery project includes a 10MW/4.3MWh (AC) General Electric Co. (“GE”) Battery Energy Storage System that will be fully integrated with an existing power plant.
Grapeland Peaker BES Project (10MW)
Owner: Southern California Edison
IEC was contracted to provide complete design services for a second Battery Energy Storage project owned by Southern California Edison (SCE). For the Grapeland Peaker Battery Energy Storage Project, IEC was the Engineer of Record (EOR) and provided detailed engineering services for civil/structural, electrical, and mechanical. IEC’s scope of work included developing and designing complete permit and construction packages which required us to develop a project design criteria and work closely with the owner, equipment suppliers, and construction contractor to ensure all project requirements were met. The project was approved by both SCE and the local building department and became operational early 2017. The battery technology utilizes lithium ion battery modules in a prefabricated enclosure, connected to industrial grade power inverters, and is connected to the existing peaker plant 13.8 kV electrical system. This project is also a 10MW/4.3MWh (AC) General Electric Co. (“GE”) Battery Energy Storage System that will be fully integrated with an existing power plant.
OCI Solar Battery Energy Storage (BES) System
Owner: OCI Solar Power LLC
The OCI Solar Battery Energy Storage Project is a new 1 MW battery storage system and PV System at the Alamo 1 Substation. The new battery storage ties into the existing substation and provides an additional source to the grid. IEC provided engineering design services for modifying the existing substation protection scheme to incorporate the new energy storage system. Services included designing a new control scheme between the solar plant, battery energy storage project, existing substation and utility interconnection. The new substation protection design ensures automatic electrical coordination for both solar and energy storage systems.
Fort Hunter Liggett and Camp Parks BES
Owner: PG&E and U.S. Army Corps, CA
IEC prepared several feasibility studies to install battery energy storage (BES) systems for the U.S. Army Corps at their Fort Hunter Liggett and Camp Parks facilities in California.
As the Army Corps’ facilitator, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) was responsible to hire a battery storage expert to complete the study. Through a solicitation process, PG&E called upon the expertise of IEC to provide engineering services. The study involved selecting BES equipment, preparing preliminary design drawings, and providing an engineer’s cost estimate for four (4) sites which included various system configurations at each site. The BES system sizes evaluated were 3MW/6MWh; 2MW/4MWh; 500kW/1MWh; 250kW/500kWh.
Two sites had existing solar PV systems that the Army Corps wanted to integrate with the BES. IEC engineered AC-coupled and DC-coupled configuration options for connecting the existing PV systems to new BES systems. For each configuration involving solar, a life cycle cost savings evaluation was prepared using facility electric rates, PV system generation, and BES storage capacity.
IEC is committed to helping our clients work through the various technical, commercial, and permitting hurdles to meet the unique energy storage needs of each client and implement clean and cost-effective energy storage solutions into their energy portfolio. Our experience and continued focus on clean, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions give our clients the tools they need to create a sustainable future.
Our experts also evaluate and model the potential capital costs and technical variables involved for each energy storage project—such as peak output, energy storage duration, response time, technology, durability, market scenarios, and business models—to weigh against expected benefits. This is a crucial component of the energy planning process.
IEC evaluates and balances each energy storage solution to consider capital costs, operating costs and revenue streams such as energy arbitrage, flexible capacity value, system balancing and congestion management. Due to each project’s unique criteria, IEC works with our clients to develop customized financial models to evaluate and rank each potential project based on potential value streams and the client’s energy goals.
IEC advises our utility, commercial, and industrial clients on the best fit storage technology for their application. Our consulting capabilities include technical knowledge for both large grid-scale energy storage applications as well as smaller commercial-scale solutions. Technologies include battery storage, pumped hydro, thermal energy storage (TES), compressed air energy storage (CAES), and hydrogen.
Our project team evaluates battery storage options to develop and execute customized solutions that meet the specific needs and demands of our utility and commercial clients based on resources, location/footprint, regulations, existing systems, environment, and schedules. As an EPC contractor, we are not attached to one type of technology, and are instead focused on finding the right state-of-the art battery technology for each project, including lithium-ion technologies, lead-acid products, and flow cell batteries. We maintain relationships with a wide variety of product developers and suppliers to facilitate a timely procurement process and ensure quality equipment. In addition, our engineers are experienced in developing projects that integrate battery storage systems with existing power generation facilities.
Pumped storage is a proven grid-scale energy storage technology with the capacity to store large quantities of electricity. These facilities supply a sustainable, reliable, and emission-free energy source that provides frequency control and reserve generation. The technology is also dispatchable to help accommodate increasing amounts of intermittent energy. IEC's staff has worked on large hydroelectric facilities throughout the western United States ranging in size from less than 6 MW to more than 400 MW. These projects have included turbines and pump-turbines configured in and aboveground and belowground powerhouses. Our team is able to develop functional designs for fully integrated hydroelectric pumped-storage powerhouses while facilitating regulatory acceptance and ensuring optimal integration with the overall utility systems and power grid. We maintain a particular focus on properly addressing environmental and community impacts and ensuring safety during construction and operations.
Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Systems allow excess thermal energy to be collected for later use while expanding the capacity of existing chilled water systems. These systems save utility costs, reduce the need for new generating facilities and/or grid upgrades, and assist in peak shaving efforts. Our team has supported a wide range of thermal energy and energy storage options for facilities ranging from hospitals, hotels, and prisons to utility-scale power facilities and industrial facilities. IEC works with our utility and commercial/industrial clients to model and analyze the optimum TES equipment and configuration, as well as providing detailed engineering design, procurement and construction of the system.
