Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), one of California’s leading utilities, in collaboration with Energy Vault, has inaugurated a long-duration energy storage (LDES) hybrid microgrid that integrates hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. The project, located in Napa County, represents the largest green hydrogen and energy storage hybrid microgrid in the United States and serves as a model for future net-zero backup power systems.

Known as the Calistoga Resilience Center (CRC), the facility was designed to ensure reliable power supply to the town of Calistoga, which has faced several major wildfires in recent years. During wildfire-related power shut-offs, the CRC is capable of maintaining electricity supply to approximately 1,600 users for at least 48 hours. The microgrid can deliver 8.5 megawatts (MW) of continuous power for 48 hours, equivalent to 293 megawatt-hours (MWh) of stored energy.

The system combines hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries to provide both long-duration and flexible energy storage. The lithium battery system manages rapid changes in power demand and ensures grid stability, while the hydrogen fuel cells supply sustained energy over longer periods. The facility uses on-site liquid hydrogen storage, which can be replenished without system shutdown, ensuring continuous operation.

According to PG&E, the Calistoga microgrid operates at a lower cost compared to traditional backup options such as diesel generators. The $28 million project was developed as a proof of concept for future utility-scale hybrid microgrid systems and demonstrates the scalability of Energy Vault’s integrated technology platform.

Since 2021, PG&E has deployed 13 microgrids across California, but the Calistoga system is the largest and the first to be fully renewable. It aligns with California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and the state’s net-zero carbon goals, marking a significant step toward clean, resilient and decentralised energy systems.

The CRC project underscores PG&E’s strategy to enhance energy security and climate resilience in wildfire-prone regions while demonstrating how green hydrogen and battery storage can work together to provide reliable, sustainable backup power.

Source:

https://www.metal.com/en/newscontent/103613151