PG&E To Test “Islanding” Plant To Power Much Of Humboldt During “PSPS” Events

Humboldt Bay Generating Station [PG&E]

PG&E has informed Humboldt Last Week that when summer comes they plan to test their capability to run the Humboldt Bay Generating Station (HBGS) in “island” mode, which would allow a large portion of county residents to remain powered during “Public Safety Power Shutoff” (PSPS) events.

“Islanding” would mean utilizing the plant to partially power a region when disconnected from the typical grid. The utility company has been conducting “PSPS” events throughout the state to “turn off electricity when gusty winds and dry conditions, combined with a heightened fire risk, are forecasted.”

Humboldt County residents may remember one of last year’s PSPS events was locally preventable had the utility company better prepared transmission lines, and the HBGS was initially floated as a partial savior but to local dismay was not utilized. The county’s most populated and coastal areas are not as prone to the fire-susceptible weather discussed above, but connectivity to other regions on the grid essentially makes the area “collateral damage.”

PG&E spokesperson Deanna Contreras told HLW they were able to acquire permits to test “islanding” the HBGS this summer and the results of those tests could lead to future permitting during actual “PSPS events.” Much of this permitting process is related to emissions and air quality.

“Other efforts to achieve islanding capability include installation of additional programming and controls at HBGS,” Contreras said.

This story begins at 6:00 in the new episode of Humboldt Last Week streaming below.

Quick local stories, also on Apple and Spotify


Episode 163 description: Humboldt County Supervisor hopefuls give us quick thoughts before we vote in the first and second districts, things improve for our coronavirus case, the zoo talks about their one of a kind redwood canopy walk coming soon, we talk girl scout cookies, a powdery booking photo, crime, a call to donate to Food For People, a PG&E PSPS update, and more.

Humboldt Last Week episode 163 partners: North Coast Co-op, STIL, Brick & Fire Bistro, Bongo Boy Studio, Trinidad Vacation Rental, North Coast Journal, Photography by Shi, Redheaded Blackbelt, 99.1 KISS FM

From PG&E:

For public safety, it may be necessary for PG&E to turn off electricity when gusty winds and dry conditions, combined with a heightened fire risk, are forecasted. This is called a “Public Safety Power Shutoff” or “PSPS”.

We are actively working solutions including integrating new technology, increasing the sectionalizing of our power lines, utilizing microgrids and temporary generation and more.

In Humboldt County, PG&E is diligently working to add the ability to provide power to an “islanded” portion of PG&E’s grid using Humboldt Bay Generating Station (HBGS) during times of emergencies and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, with the goal of having this capability this summer.

PG&E has defined the area that can be energized (“islanded”), which includes most of populated Humboldt County. There are some Tier 2 and 3 wildfire zones in Humboldt County that could still be in scope for a PSPS event. With support from the County, PG&E was successful in obtaining necessary permit variances needed to perform testing in support of islanding. Results of those tests are informing future permitting actions.

Additional permits are necessary for operation; the process of preparing permit requests is underway. Permit variances will be required to support islanding in 2020.

Other efforts to achieve islanding capability include installation of additional programming and controls at HBGS. PG&E will begin testing this capability in early summer.

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Off-grid
Guest
Off-grid
4 years ago

Good call. Why impose normal air pollution limitations at the same time much of the state is on fire.

Guest1
Guest
Guest1
4 years ago

Nice.

Chas
Guest
Chas
4 years ago

Or just let everyone run they gas-guzzling generators. That has to be better than running that plant. NOT

Just sayin
Guest
Just sayin
4 years ago
Reply to  Chas

I haven’t heard a NOT joke since the 90’s…..

steven
Guest
steven
4 years ago
Reply to  Just sayin

Hopefully they will be saying the same thing about “just sayin” soon.

Steve Parr
Guest
4 years ago

“Much of this permitting process is related to emissions and air quality.” Read: our, “local power broker’s,” attempts to shut down any non-renewable power sources within the county is probably the main thing preventing PG&E from islanding this plant.

Remember that, if you subscribe to RCEA’s B.S., and pay part of your utility money to them.

Who Cares
Guest
Who Cares
4 years ago

They say the station will be running at 50 percent to power Humboldt. That’s why they need a variance, because running at less than full power is dirtier.

But, that station is several smaller generators, not one big one, 3-5 smaller powerplants I think.

So are they running all the generators at 50 percent?

Or 1/2 of the generators at full power? which you would think would run clean.

Or is all of Humboldt powered on 50 percent of one generator?

That system was designed with flexibility in mind, so why did we have to twist PGE’s arm to get them to use it as designed? Ridiculous.

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  Who Cares

I think they have 7 turbines. So they have to have a certain number running no load or low load so they spool up to power surges on demand.

Who Cares
Guest
Who Cares
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

Oh, they’re turbines?

I thought it was a multi fuel internal combustion generator system. German (?) Made generators, Wurtzilla (spelling?) Brand. No?

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago
Reply to  Who Cares

I’m pretty sure they are natural gas turbines. I think there is also a diesel generator on site for “black starts”.

https://www.wartsila.com/energy/learn-more/technical-comparisons/gas-turbine-for-power-generation-introduction

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
4 years ago

Thanks for the correction. I must have been thinking of the turbines they replaced.

Here’s a line diagram:

comment image

Industrial Disease
Guest
Industrial Disease
4 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

That’s old. HBPP units 1, 2, and 3 were the boilers and the nuclear unit. They also had the MEPPS gas turbine on site. Those were all decommissioned. The diesels are in the building shown at the upper left in the site picture. Everything else is gone.

Zipline
Guest
Zipline
4 years ago

Does the powerplant work while submerged?

2putttom
Guest
2putttom
4 years ago
Reply to  Zipline

when is the sea level suppose rise above 10 feet ?

Zipline
Guest
Zipline
4 years ago
Reply to  2putttom

One little earthquake and tsunami and that plant is down and out.

Martin
Guest
Martin
4 years ago

I really hope PG&E can get this plant going, and pass all emission and air quality testing. I am tired of having to run a generator to keep my frig, freeze and a few light going. I am retired and it was just damn lucky I could afford a generator. Many of my friends were not so lucky.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Martin

I have a whole house generator but the bloody thing turns itself on automatically even at 2 blasted AM if the power goes out. In the end, I found that having a system to keep the fridge cold for a few days and having a few solar lights is much more energy efficient and less irritating than getting up to turn off and back on. And it is pricey to use the expensive thing. And the silence is blessed- as long as it doesn’t go one too long of course.

Mr. Bear
Guest
Mr. Bear
4 years ago

Just in time to make Bohn look good on election day!

Who Cares
Guest
Who Cares
4 years ago
Reply to  Mr. Bear

He deserves the credit. He called out PGE. The system was designed with islanding in mind…but it took a public official to get them to actually use that function…probably because it will effect their profit margin.

So as far as this issue is concerned, Good job Rex, thanks for forcing the PUBLIC utility to actually serve the PUBLIC (that’s us).