Energy grid reliability during extreme weather conditions has been a concern for decades throughout California, but now, Enchanted Rock is helping bring more stability to the system. 

Enchanted Rock, which was founded in 2006, offers electrical resilience as a service and is now providing its fast-response services to California’s Central Valley.

The Scope of the Energy Grid Reliability Problem

Climate change is more visible than ever in the frequency and intensity of storms and other weather events. California has suffered its share through the past few years, with everything from forest fires to cyclones affecting large areas of the state and leaving people without power and gas. 

These weather events pose risks to the electrical grid and can make it more difficult for people to not only remain safe but also receive assistance during emergencies. Until now, there has been hesitation on how to ensure residents receive the continuous electrical support they need. None of the proposed projects seemed reliable enough. 

Solutions on the Horizon

In 2022, the California Legislature formed the Strategic Reliability Reserve to find solutions to this issue, but it was only recently that the California Department of Water Resources unveiled its initiative. 

The installation of three state-of-the-art generators in Central Valley will address the various issues that dangerous weather events can cause. 

The three sites where the generators will be installed are hosted by the city of Lodi, Modesto Irrigation District, and Turlock Irrigation District. Enchanted Rock is involved in the project. It’s a company that installs microgrids and offers businesses and other entities the chance to maintain operations even during power outages.

Enchanted Rock is providing 148 megawatts of dispatchable and fast-response energy. These will serve to bolster the state’s emergency capacity resources. 

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The company will manage operations 24/7 all year long and offer maintenance and monthly system testing for all sites to ensure the area is prepared for the next storm. 

The Department of Water Resources is also relying on Modesto Irrigation District for its infrastructure, which is already in place and can host the project. For natural gas, the DWR is working with Pacific Gas & Electric. 

To ensure this solution doesn’t make the climate problem worse, emission levels will meet San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District operation standards for non-emergencies. 

Electrical Resiliency and What It Means for the Future

Enchanted Rock provides electrical resiliency-as-a-service because it recognizes the value of always-on power — for everyday life but especially in emergency situations. Electrical grid resilience ensures the grid can quickly withstand, respond, and recover from power disruptions. 

Electrical resiliency will only become more crucial in the future. As climate change continues to affect the world and threats of cyberattacks show no signs of abating, protecting the energy grid will continually require more creative solutions. 

Enchanted Rock is ready to tackle the coming challenges and keep the power on. 

Learn more about the fast-response 148 MW project by reading the original article.