For the third consecutive year, BEI Construction attended RE+, the largest and most comprehensive event in North America focused on clean energy. This year marked the twentieth anniversary of the conference, which brought together experts and practitioners from throughout the renewable energy industry for educational programming, industry updates, and networking opportunities.

About RE+

The event was developed by the country’s leading clean energy organizations, the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), to keep industry professionals up to date on the latest trends and best practices in solar, energy storage, hydrogen, microgrids, EV charging and infrastructure, and wind energy.

Originally conceived as Solar Power International (SPI), RE+ now boasts over 40,000 attendees from all over the world. Proceeds from the event go toward supporting SEIA and SEPA’s year-round research and education activities, and their extensive advocacy and advisory initiatives—all aimed at strengthening the industry domestically and globally to further the adoption of renewable energy resources.

A must-attend event

“I enjoyed attending this year’s RE+,” said Jerry Zampino, who represented BEI at the event. “It’s one of the most important conferences of the year for our industry, and offered a great opportunity to stay current on the latest innovations and trends. I also appreciated the chance to connect with many of my colleagues.”

“BEI is committed to ongoing education and training, and attending conferences like these provides a valuable learning experience. With the information and insights we took away from RE+, we can continue to deliver the leading-edge thinking and quality results that clients count on,” added Zampino.

Key Takeaways from RE+ 2024

Energy Storage Demand: Energy storage was a key focus at RE+ 2024, with strong interest in scalable and reliable solutions for the growing demand in renewable energy infrastructure.

Solar and BESS Growth: The U.S. added 32 GW of solar and 4 GW of battery storage in 2023, with 2024 set to surpass these numbers.

Battery Standardization: Utility-scale batteries, particularly LFP models in the 5-7 MWh range, are becoming the standard, offering financiers greater predictability and efficiency.

Falling Battery Prices: Lower $/kWh costs were a central topic, signaling potential for more cost-effective energy storage solutions.

IRA Impact: Customers were keen to learn about the domestic content incentives under the IRA and how BEI is positioned to leverage these opportunities in renewable energy projects.

Policy Outlook: BEI remains confident in the stability of renewable energy policies, with the IRA expected to have a lasting positive impact on the industry’s growth and development.

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“As we accelerate the clean energy future, we are also protecting communities from pollution and environmental harms that can result from poor planning and decision-making while making sure we build projects in the right places,” says Brenda Mallory, chair of the council.

These measures are part of the Biden administration’s recent efforts to speed up the implementation of its signature climate law, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The act includes at least $370 billion in tax incentives to expand renewable energy, including wind, solar, and EVs.

The administration’s environmental agenda stipulates:

• Replacing toxic lead pipes when upgrading the nation’s network of roads, airports, and other critical infrastructure
• Expanding the perimeters of two California national monuments (the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument)
• Tightening energy-efficiency standards for water heaters
• Strictly limiting coal-burning power plants

Enthusiastic endorsements

The recent federal mandates have been lauded by the California State Assembly and Senate. The new stipulations will help hasten the state’s transition to a 100 percent clean energy future. Senate Bill 100, passed in 2018, sets a renewable goal of 60 percent renewables by 2030, and the Golden State leads the nation in the transition to clean energy.

The Biden administration’s clean energy efforts have also been applauded by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), of which BEI is a longstanding member. CESA is a national, nonprofit coalition of public agencies and organizations working together to advance clean energy. 

“Like CESA, we applaud the administration’s clean energy initiatives, which will go a long way to furthering the adoption of renewables not only in California but nationwide,” says Jerry Zampino, BEI General Manager,  Energy Storage. “The legislation has already made a huge impact. Last year saw record-breaking EV sales, new U.S. energy capacity (31GW) dominated by renewables, and significant progress in transmission and grid upgrades. However, obstacles still remain.”

Current challenges to renewable energy adoption

Rising interest rates and project costs, challenges in permitting and finding sites, and persistent supply chain issues are hampering certain clean power development at a time when it needs to be surging forward. For example, many projects originally slated to come online in 2023 were pushed back due to supply chain problems, which limited the availability of the transformers needed to connect clean energy to the grid. As of the end of 2023, the delivery time for transformers grew from 50 weeks to 150 weeks, which has seriously hampered the buildout of the transmission system.

In addition, the rapid rise in interest rates has substantially increased the cost of capital for all clean energy initiatives, which, unlike other forms of power generation, require significant upfront investments.

“Despite these challenges, we’ve had an excellent year and continue to see robust growth in our renewable engineering and construction business. We are excited by the momentum,” adds Zampino. “This is an exciting and rewarding time to be in the industry, and we expect the Biden initiatives to speed up the country’s clean energy transition.”

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Understanding BESS

Imagine BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) as a giant rechargeable battery for renewable energy. It captures excess electricity produced during peak times, like a sunny afternoon for solar panels or a windy day for wind turbines. This stored energy can then be released back to the grid when demand is high or renewable energy production dips.

Why is BESS Important?

One of the primary advantages of BESS is its ability to address the intermittency of renewable energy sources. Unlike traditional fossil fuel power plants that can generate electricity on demand, renewable energy generation fluctuates based on weather conditions. BESS bridges this gap, ensuring a steady and reliable flow of electricity even when the weather isn’t cooperating. This stability strengthens the power grid and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.

Moreover, this System plays a crucial role in enhancing grid resilience. By integrating energy storage systems into the electrical grid, utilities can improve system reliability and stability. It provides backup power during outages or emergencies, ensuring critical infrastructure and communities can access electricity when needed. This resilience is essential for mitigating the impacts of natural disasters and ensuring the continuity of essential services.

Notable BESS Projects

Across the globe, numerous notable BESS projects exemplify the technology’s capabilities. For example, the Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia, featuring Tesla’s Powerpack batteries, has become a landmark project in energy storage. This massive installation has demonstrated the effectiveness of BESS in stabilizing the grid, providing rapid response frequency regulation, and reducing overall energy costs.

Closer to home, BEI Construction is a leader in integrating BESS into renewable energy projects. We’ve completed several notable projects, including the recently finished Stanton Battery Energy Storage System in Southern California. This massive system, one of the largest in the region, provides clean power and bolsters grid reliability for a significant area. Our expertise extends beyond large-scale projects. BEI Construction implements BESS solutions for commercial and industrial clients as well. These solutions help businesses optimize energy usage and maintain uninterrupted power supply.

The Future is Bright

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) represent a significant step forward in our journey towards a sustainable energy future. By addressing intermittency challenges and enhancing grid resilience, BESS plays a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of renewable energy sources. With notable projects like the Hornsdale Power Reserve and contributions from companies like BEI Construction, the future of energy storage looks brighter than ever.

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What are Substations? 

Substations are integral parts of the electrical grid, acting as hubs where electricity is transformed, switched, and controlled. They serve as connection points between different voltage levels in the grid, facilitating the efficient transmission and distribution of electricity to homes, businesses, and industries. 

At a basic level, substations perform two primary functions: 

Voltage transformation: Substations convert electricity between different voltage levels to ensure efficient transmission and distribution. This transformation is essential for transporting electricity from power generation facilities to end-users. 

Switching and control: Substations contain switches, breakers, and other control devices that enable operators to manage the flow of electricity within the grid. This includes isolating faulty equipment, rerouting power during maintenance, and adjusting voltage levels to meet demand. 

The Role of Substations in Renewable Energy 

In the context of renewable energy, substations play a critical role in integrating electricity generated from renewable sources into the grid. Here’s how: 

Connecting renewable energy facilities: Substations serve as connection points for renewable energy facilities, such as solar farms, wind farms, and hydroelectric plants, to the grid. They feed the power generated at these facilities into the grid, transforming it to match the voltage of the transmission network.

Managing variable energy production: Renewable energy sources like solar and wind can vary depending on weather conditions and time of day. Substations help manage this variability by regulating the flow of electricity and balancing supply and demand within the grid. Additionally, advanced technologies in modern substations facilitate real-time monitoring and control, enhancing grid stability and reliability. 

Enhancing grid resilience: Substations contribute to grid resilience by providing redundancy and backup capabilities. In the event of a power outage or equipment failure, substations can reroute electricity and isolate affected areas. This way they minimize disruptions and restore power quickly. 

Did you know there are substations built underground? 

Substations don’t always require giant fenced enclosures. There are entire substations built underground! These underground substations are typically used in densely populated or sensitive areas where a large, fenced structure wouldn’t be ideal.  

Building underground offers several advantages, such as minimized footprint, improved aesthetics, and potentially quieter operation. However, there are also downsides to consider: higher prices, complex maintenance and repairs, underground space requirements, and proper safety protocols. 

Located in Anaheim, California, the Park Substation marks the first-ever underground electric substation built beneath a park in the United States. Completed in 2006, it provides power to the surroundings, saving surface space for a pleasant park area for the community. 

Substation Solutions for Renewable Energy 

Through strategic partnerships and cutting-edge projects, BEI Construction is driving the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, developing and implementing innovative substation solutions to support the integration of renewable energy into the grid. 

For example, at the Aquamarine Westside Solar Complex (Stratford, CA), BEI Construction partnered with Solv Energy to construct a 230kV substation for the solar complex. Similarly, at the Central 40 Solar Project (Newman, CA), BEI Construction was key in building the utility-scale solar facility. It also includes designing and constructing a substation to connect the 50.3 MWdc solar PV power project to the grid. This is a prime example of BEI Construction’s ability to deliver comprehensive solutions for renewable energy integration. 

Therefore, through these projects and others, BEI Construction is playing a pivotal role in advancing the adoption of renewable energy. The company is also building a more resilient and efficient electrical grid for future generations. 

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However, with the increase in BESS deployment comes heightened safety concerns, due to the risk of failures in the field that can result in fires and explosions. Lithium-ion batteries contain flammable electrolytes that can be hazardous when the battery cell becomes compromised and enters thermal runaway. When this occurs, there’s an increased chance of short-circuiting, which can result in overcharging, overheating, and the possible release of potentially toxic battery gas. Once a BESS exceeds 600 kWh in energy capacity, a Hazard Mitigation Analysis (HMA) can help identify additional mitigation measures required to address the risks.

Evolving BESS safety regulations

Recently, updates have addressed these potential hazards in BESS installation codes and standards. The 2018 editions of the International Fire Code, International Residential Code, and the NFPA 1 Fire Code first introduced requirements aimed specifically at modern ESS applications, with a focus on lithium-ion battery installations. Requirements were further refined in the 2021 editions of those model codes, and in the 2020 edition of NFPA 855, the Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems.

All these codes and standards require electrochemical ESSs to comply with UL 9540 and UL 9540A, the Standard for Safety of Energy Storage Systems and Equipment, which was first introduced in November 2016.

California implements additional safeguards

In response to the increase in BESS installations in California and the ever-present risk of wildfires, the state government recently enacted new legislation, Senate Bill 38 (SB38), that requires battery storage facilities to implement additional safety measures and emergency response protocols to ensure the safety of workers and surrounding communities. These measures are above and beyond the existing requirements and standards established by the regulatory California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

Maintaining a safety-oriented corporate culture

“With BESS engineering and construction a major growth area for us, we have made safety a top priority at every phase of a project,” explains Dominic DiMare, Principal, BEI Construction. “This commitment to safety extends from management to the field, as demonstrated by our excellent 1.4 OSHA Total Incident Rate (1.0 is considered the industry average).

“We conduct extensive in-house training as part of the new employee onboarding process, based on OSHA and Cal OSHA standards and our documented best practices. We also follow NFPA 70E, the industry standard developed by and for electricians, and have Gold Shovel certification. The company conducts safety training in all three divisions: electrical, low voltage, and underground boring.”

Job site assessment forecasting is done early on, with site-specific safety tasks delineated, and site-specific safety binders, including health and safety plans, kept throughout a job. Additionally, the company conducts on-site safety surveys every two weeks to assess factors such as the overall condition of the site, PPE, stormwater levels, fencing, and cleanliness.

To strengthen our safety culture, BEI also rewards employees for outstanding safety performance in the field. And, with national and state regulations continuing to evolve, the firm keeps close tabs on the latest mandates to ensure we remain in strict compliance.

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility in the company, and one we take seriously,” adds DiMare.

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Luis and Erik have consistently demonstrated their expertise and dedication. Furthermore, they went above and beyond to ensure top-notch connectivity at the Stanford Health Care (SHC) campus in Palo Alto and the SHC Tri-Valley Campus in Pleasanton, California. Undeniably, their commitment to excellence and meticulous attention to detail have played a vital role in supporting the infrastructure of these facilities.

At BEI Construction, we take immense pride in our team’s ability to deliver exceptional results. Moreover, this recognition is a testament to Luis and Erik’s hard work and expertise. Their unwavering dedication reflects our company’s commitment to excellence in every project we undertake.

Please join us in congratulating Luis and Erik on this well-deserved honor! 🎉👏

About Stanford Health Care

Stanford Health Care seeks to heal humanity through science and compassion, through its commitment to care, education, and discovery. As a result, the institution delivers clinical innovation across its inpatient services, specialty health centers, physician offices, virtual care offerings, and health plan programs.

Stanford Health Care is part of Stanford Medicine, a leading academic health system that includes the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care, and Stanford Children’s Health.

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