The Bluewater Renewable Energy Storage Project is designed to store renewable power when plentiful, for use when electricity is in high demand. Bluewater will help stabilize developing and existing electric infrastructure and assist with maximizing the use of all forms of renewable energy that are intermittent by nature.

With a generating capacity of 500 MWs over long 10-hour duration periods, this storage will provide vital “load balancing” to California’s electricity system grid by dispatching carbon-free energy quickly during peak usage and storing unused surplus renewable energy during low-demand high-generation periods. This load balancing helps prevent the type of power outages that occurred in 2020 and help relieve the stress that was experienced during fall 2022 heatwave. Bluewater also provides “black-start” capability allowing the project to generate electricity after an unexpected grid outage.

California established (2018 SB 100 and 2022 SB 1020) renewable energy commitments and set ambitious renewable energy targets of 90% by 2035, 95% by 2040 and 100% by 2045. As a result, renewable, GHG emissions-free generation and high-capacity long duration storage are needed more than ever, to optimize the contribution of plentiful but intermittent renewable sources like solar that are unavailable during peak evening periods and throughout the night.

At the same time, baseload generation is challenged with the urgency to retire the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant and to retire gas-generation facilities. Additional impacts to baseload generation from loss of hydroelectric power due to the severe and likely ongoing drought conditions, make long duration storage critical, to ensure surplus solar and wind energy can be stored for use 24 hours a day.

500MW pumped hydro storage project located within the City of Lake Elsinore, with 10 hours discharge period (5,000 Megawatt Hours) and 12 hours of storage (6,000 Megawatt Hours)

Bluewater is designed to respond to this challenge!

Bluewater leverages the unique combination of an existing water body, sufficient topographic variation, and proximity to southern California’s largest energy market to construct and operate the most advanced, large-scale pumped hydro storage project in the USA to help meet California’s growing need for renewable electricity resources.

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, Bluewater is long duration high-capacity energy storage, with 100 years of life with minimal maintenance. And unlike lithium-ion batteries, Bluewater has no significant environmental impact; in fact it is the opposite.

Bluewater supports the long-term viability of Lake Elsinore, ensuring water levels are maintained at optimum levels at approximately 1,240 feet above sea level, though the purchase of make-up water, thus improving water quality. In combination with the injection of oxygen, Bluewater will mitigate if not eliminate toxic algae blooms that have become common during the long hot days of summer. Bluewater also mitigates the impacts of drought, providing additional water storage in the upper reservoir for use when lake levels are low.

Most importantly, Bluewater supports the local community, not just by ensuring the long-term viability of the lake but also through well-paying union jobs during the project’s 5-year construction period and beyond.

PUMPED HYDRO

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