Accelerated Deployment of Irrigation Pumping Demand Flexibility
Polaris Energy Services Inc.
Recipient
San Diego, CA
Recipient Location
40th
Senate District
77th
Assembly District
$2,722,436
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The project enabled 40 megawatts of peak load reduction through demand response and load shifting. The final report was published.
View Final ReportThe Issue
California has committed to sourcing 100% of electricity from renewable resources by 2045 and 100% light-duty ZEV sales by 2035, while maintaining demand response and energy efficiency at the top of the loading order. These goals require reliably shifting load from net peak hours while increasing total supply of electricity. This project helped to achieve those goals by adding demand response capacity and facilitating load shift from agricultural pumping.
Project Innovation
Building on EPC-16-045 which developed the tools needed by growers and proved the ability to deliver load flexibility under the right conditions, this project ramped up agricultural demand response (DR) capacity and facilitate load shift from agricultural energy users (AEU) through technology deployment of automation systems that enable AEU to respond to curtailment and price signals from existing and emerging grid management systems.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
In agricultural operations across California (and many western states), irrigation pumping is a major energy consumer and offers a compelling opportunity to synchronize with electricity grid needs. California’s agricultural industry uses almost 7 percent of the state’s electricity, mostly for pumping water to irrigate crops. Installing technology that helps manage and control irrigation pumps in response to pricing signals from utilities can help irrigators reduce their electricity costs and shift demand to a period when power is more affordable and available. Through project support, Polaris Energy Services was able to recruit and install an additional 40 megawatts of flexible peak load.
Affordability
The technology deployed enables effective response to time of use rates and facilitates participation in demand response programs through the shifting of agricultural irrigation pumping in response to grid signals.
Reliability
The technology deployed enables participation in demand response programs through the shifting of agricultural irrigation pumping to periods of surplus renewable energy, which improves system reliability.
