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Making vital updates to an aging system
Making vital updates to an aging system
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BUSINESS CASE
Optimizing to meet demands
The new plant is designed to work with California’s emerging renewable generation fleet.
The plant operates during periods of peak demand, cycling on and off as needed. Demand peaks during the day, and then again after the sun goes down, at which time solar generation drops. The plant ramps up quickly when renewable resources aren’t providing energy to the grid.
Substantially more efficient than Encina while permitted to run less frequently, Carlsbad Energy Center gives the region the energy it needs. The project provided more than 400 construction jobs over its three-year construction.
ENERGY FACTS
Up and running
The new facility produces full-rated power in under 10 minutes.
Carlsbad Energy Center is built to produce over 500 megawatts with five flexible, fast-starting turbines. These allow for quicker outputs of energy, in comparison to the older retired plants.
This is an important step to providing the region with reliable, efficient output in the event of severe weather—which is known to impact wind, solar and hydro power generation—or earthquakes and wildfires, which threaten transmission lines.
SUSTAINABILITY RESULTS
Improving the community
We were recognized by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce as the 2015 Clean Tech Business of the Year.
Beyond the delivery of efficient and reliable power, we’ve supported community programs to help improve the quality of life in Carlsbad and North San Diego County.
Our stewardship of the Agua Hedionda lagoon helps sustain the watershed’s biodiversity, while also helping meet the region’s needs for sustainable drinking water and seafood.
And the Poseidon Water’s desalination project, located on the Encina/Carlsbad Energy Center land, is the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere—converting 50 million gallons of ocean water into drinking water each day and providing a drought-resistant option to the community. Encina has maintained the cooling water pumps on behalf of Poseidon Water’s desalination project while Poseidon prepares to install its own dedicated intake and pumping system adjacent to Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
"This project will help ensure a reliable energy supply for our region while freeing up precious coastal land for the benefit of the public. This supports our community’s vision for the future."
Gary Barberio
Carlsbad Assistant City Manager