Miramar Microgrid - Flight Line Resilience through Landfill Gas and Energy Storage
MCAS Miramar will significantly enhance its DoD-funded microgrid with the addition of new components, controls, and capabilities. Key upgrades are a battery energy storage system and limiting of demand from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
The Regents of California, San Diego
Recipient
La Jolla, CA
Recipient Location
38th
Senate District
77th
Assembly District
$518,693
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
In 2025, the installed microgrid system including battery energy storage system (BESS) underwent 12 months of testing and data collection. An in-depth commissioning process validated the operational functionality of the BESS. The project team conducted a 5.5-hour base-wide blackstart exercise to demonstrate the integration of the BESS controls into the existing microgrid control software and confirm the ability of the BESS to support restoration of electrical systems following a loss of generation event. Both manual and automatic modes were tested, confirming the system's reliability and performance under real-world outage conditions.
BESS health and performance metrics were collected and evaluated to confirm that the BESS meets the design specifications, operational requirements, and use cases intended. This monitoring capability of the microgrid system enhances the ability to conduct ongoing analysis, optimization, and will be used for post-project data reporting.
Through 12 months of continuous BESS operation, the project improved energy management capabilities and contributed to a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure on the Base. The BESS reduced monthly peak demand by an average of 960 kW, resulting in demand charge savings of over $21,000 per month while providing broader grid benefits. The system remains fully operational, enhancing energy efficiency and reliability while supporting MCAS Miramar’s economic and sustainability goals.
The Issue
Miramar Marine Base is a critical military facility that requires energy reliability and resiliency for mission critical operations. The Base's availability of intermittent biogas generators can generally meet base electricity demand, however the generators are frequently interrupted due to inconsistent flow and quality of landfill biogas (LFG). When this happens, the electrical power is switched to fossil gas generators that can take considerable starting time to fully power up, increasing emissions and impacting the Base’s operations. The BESS and advanced flexible load controls developed in this project will help mitigate this issue while also increasing energy reliability, resilience, and reducing peak demand on the grid.
Project Innovation
The core innovation of this project is the development and demonstration of advanced controls for integration of a new BESS and load flexibility into a larger microgrid spanning more than 100 buildings at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The controls and optimization software will be able to perform several use cases including helping to maintain critical flight line facilities during grid outages or loss of LFG generation while reducing peak demand on the electric grid. The lessons learned and controls strategies validated at the Base can inform deployment of microgrids at other critical facilities.
Project Goals
Reduce the peak demand of the Base and associated demand charges.
Increase the share of renewable generation on the Base to 75 percent by 2020.
Reduce criteria air pollutant emissions from avoided use of diesel generators.
Improve the resilience of the Base to maintain critical services during outages.
Project Benefits
This project allowed the Base to run on higher fractions of renewable resources while in island mode. At the same time, the project provided economic benefits for the Base through lower energy costs and avoided demand charges that also reduced peak demand on the grid and associated stress on equipment.
Affordability
Affordability
The battery energy storage system reduced peak demand on the grid and associated charges, which will help the Base reduce overall energy costs. This will also result in less reliance on the utility grid during peak periods and during LFG outages and less ware on utility infrastructure.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability
The microgrid will reduce the use of diesel generators on the Base, which will reduce emissions and exposure for the Base population and surrounding area. The reduction in grid demand will help the local utility reduce reliance on peaker plants, which also reduces local air pollution.
Reliability
Reliability
The microgrid will shift net load to participate in time-based demand response programs and improve grid constraints.
