Demonstrating Mobile Renewable Back-up generation with Uprise Energy’s Mobile Power Station
Uprise Energy, LLC
Recipient
San Diego, CA
Recipient Location
39th
Senate District
78th
Assembly District
$1,569,794
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The recipient is building four mobile power stations and has completed as series of field-testing demonstrations. The mobile system involves a portable and deployable wind and solar system and associated equipment to provide electricity service to emergency responders. The first field trial began in 2023, and the company has completed 4 field trials in Southern California and one special demonstration in the Fiji Islands to demonstrate the full range of system capabilities. The project has completed all stages of the grant activities.
The Issue
California has seen a dramatic increase in severe, widespread wildfires and overall grid disturbances, as a result of increasingly frequent extreme weather events, and the state's aging electrical system. Investor-owned utilities have initiated Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) procedures to reduce the likelihood of electrically induced wildfires under extreme weather conditions. During power outages, fossil fuel-powered back-up generation are commonly relied upon. However, the negative environmental impacts of these generators, and the upstream climate impacts of fossil fuel extraction, are significant.
Project Innovation
The project demonstrated a renewable Mobile Power Station (MPS) that combines wind and solar generation with energy storage, can be rapidly deployed to provide instantaneous reliable power without grid interconnection, performs in a range of California climate zones and weather conditions, and provides multiple benefits to California ratepayers in low income, disadvantaged communities, and tribal communities. The system is designed to be especially efficient at low wind speeds, which allows it to be conveniently located near customers, particularly in areas that have historically relied on diesel generators for power. The MPS will generate affordable power, unlocking many applications for commercial, residential, government and military use cases.
Project Benefits
The project demonstrated the ability to field deploy what is in effect a “nano-grid” to support first responders as they responded to natural disasters, wildfires and other time critical grid disturbances.
Affordability
The Uprise MPS offers significant cost savings as it generates its own power and does not need to connect to the electric grid. For context, electricity rates and the cost of diesel continue to rise in California
Environmental Sustainability
The MPS is project offers a clean alternative to diesel backup power. Replacing a 10-kW diesel generator that runs 500 hours a year during emergency events with the Uprise mobile power system will avoid approximately 9,856 lbs CO2/yr, 265,760 lbs NOx/yr, 57,200 lbs CO/yr, 18,700 lbs PM/yr, and 17,468 lbs SOx/yr.
Key Project Members
Chris Nordstrom
John Knight
Jonathan Knight
Match Partners
Uprise Energy, LLC
