Client: San Diego Gas & Electric
Project: Sunrise Powerlink Project 230 kV Underground Transmission Segment
Location: San Diego, California
The San Diego Gas & Electric Sunrise Powerlink Project brings enough energy into San Diego from the renewable-rich Imperial Valley to serve 650,000 homes.
The fiber optics will be used to monitor the thermal performance of the high-voltage cable system real time.
The Sunrise Powerlink Project is considered the largest and most significant infrastructure project in San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) history. The 117-mile, 500,000 volt electric transmission line links San Diego to the Imperial Valley, one of the most renewable energy-rich regions in California. The completion of the project in 2012 was the result of a rigorous, five-year environmental review and permitting process. This process was followed by 18 months of construction of both overhead and underground transmission infrastructure.
“The greatest challenge on the San Diego Gas & Electric Sunrise Powerlink Project was not knowing what we would encounter during the course of the construction,” said Forest Rong, Engineering Manager, Black & Veatch. “As the lead underground transmission design company for the project, we had a deep understanding of SDG&E’s project requirements. Our engineering team worked proactively with SDG&E, material suppliers and the construction contractor to come up with unique construction solutions.”
Fiber optics was included in the 6.2-mile, 230 kilovolt (kV) underground cable system design that is part of the 117-mile system. The fiber optics will be used to monitor the thermal performance of the high-voltage cable system real time. The temperature information collected by the fiber optics provides first-hand cable insight. This allows SDG&E to maximize power transfer capacity safely and efficiently.
As part of engineering service, Black & Veatch designed a forced-water cooling system to be used where the underground transmission cable system reconnects with the overhead line. The system will facilitate heat dissipation from the energized cable. This will eliminate a choke point by using water chillers, circulation pumps and control instrumentation.
“The most satisfaction Black & Veatch had was to help SDG&E build world-class underground transmission lines and make our contribution for the Sunrise Powerlink Project, which resulted in two important industry awards,” said Rong.
One award is ENR California 2012 Best Civil Work/Infrastructure Project, and the second is the International Right-of-Way Association 2012 award for the Infrastructure Project of the Year.