Rajan Wilcox
Southern California Edison (SCE), the largest subsidiary of Edison International, is the primary electric utility company for much of Southern California. In 2016, 28.2% of SCE's power sources were renewable, and the company has set a target of 50% by 2030. However, SCE still relies on fossil fuels, with natural gas-fired generation facilities contributing to its power mix. The company has also been working to improve the efficiency of its fossil fuel operations and reduce their environmental impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| SCE's use of fossil fuels | SCE's power sources were 28.2% renewable in 2016, with an expected 50% by 2030. In 2020, 32% of its power was estimated to be from fossil fuels. |
| SCE's renewable energy sources | Solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower. |
| SCE's efforts to reduce environmental impact | Transportation Electrification Plan to address greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, efficient energy storage, and reduced water usage. |
| SCE's ownership and operations | Owned by Edison International, SCE operates in Southern California, providing electricity to 15 million people. |
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What You'll Learn
SCE's use of fossil fuels
Southern California Edison (SCE) is the largest subsidiary of Edison International and is the primary electric utility company for Southern California. It provides electricity to 15 million people across a territory of approximately 50,000 square miles.
SCE has a history of investing in renewable energy sources and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. In 2006, SCE planned to secure more power generated from wind farms in the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm area, and in 2008, the company announced an $875 million project to build a network of photovoltaic solar power generation. In 2009, SCE entered into a contract with Solar Millennium to purchase solar thermal power. By 2013, 22% of SCE's power came from eligible renewable sources, and the company sold its remaining coal generation ownership shares at the end of that year. In 2014, SCE had a renewables mix of 23%, which increased to 28.2% in 2016. The company has set a target of deriving 50% of its power from eligible renewable sources by 2030.
Despite these efforts, SCE still relies partially on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas. In 2020, it was estimated that 32% of SCE's power mix came from fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. SCE owns and operates a natural gas-fired generation facility in Redlands, California, called Mountainview. This facility is a highly advanced gas turbine plant that can start up quickly, within 30 minutes, allowing for the backup of renewable energy sources when customer demand exceeds supply. The plant's "combined-cycle" design allows it to operate more efficiently, providing more power from less fuel and lower-cost power for customers.
SCE has recognised the environmental impact of the transportation sector, which includes petroleum refining and is responsible for about 50% of California's greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, SCE has filed a Transportation Electrification Plan, which includes over $570 million in programs and infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from heavy commercial and industrial vehicles.
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Renewable energy sources
The four main sources of renewable energy used in the UK and US are solar power, wind power, hydropower, and bioenergy.
Solar power generates electricity by capturing sunlight on solar panels through a joint chemical and physical reaction known as the "photovoltaic effect" (PV). Solar energy is the most abundant of all energy resources and can be harnessed even in cloudy weather.
Wind power is the largest producer of renewable electricity in the UK and the US. Onshore and offshore wind farms generate electricity by spinning the blades of wind turbines, converting kinetic energy into electric energy.
Hydropower relies on the flow of water to generate energy and is one of the oldest and largest sources of renewable energy. It provides multiple benefits, including drinking water, water for irrigation, flood and drought control, and navigation services.
Bioenergy involves burning organic matter, such as plants, timber, or food waste, as fuel. While it emits carbon dioxide, these fuel sources are considered renewable because they can be regrown, absorbing as much carbon as they emit over their lifespans.
Other renewable energy sources include geothermal energy, which utilizes the Earth's internal thermal energy, and ocean energy, which harnesses the kinetic and thermal energy of seawater to produce electricity or heat.
The use of renewable energy is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and addressing the climate crisis.
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SCE's environmental impact
Southern California Edison (SCE), the largest subsidiary of Edison International, is the primary electric utility company for much of Southern California. It provides electricity to 15 million people across a service territory of approximately 50,000 square miles.
SCE has made efforts to increase its use of renewable energy sources and reduce its environmental impact. In 2013, 22% of SCE's power came from eligible renewable sources, an increase from 17% in 2009. The company has set a target to derive 50% of its power from eligible renewable sources by 2030. This includes solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power. In 2006, SCE planned to secure more power from wind energy, with a contract to build wind parks in the Tehachapi region. In 2008, the company announced a project to build a network of photovoltaic solar power generation, and in 2009, it entered into a contract with Solar Millennium to purchase solar thermal power. SCE's Big Creek Plant has been producing hydroelectric power for over a century in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains.
SCE has also implemented initiatives to improve the efficiency of its operations. In 2014, the company partnered with Ice Energy to provide more efficient energy storage by freezing water at night when electricity is cheaper. In 2017, SCE opened two new hybrid electric gas turbine (EGT) units, which combine gas turbines and storage batteries to improve environmental performance. The setup reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 60%, lowered annual water usage by 2 million gallons, and decreased the number of gas starts by 50%.
However, SCE still relies on fossil fuels to some extent. In 2020, it was estimated that 32% of SCE's power mix came from fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. The company owns a natural gas-fired generation facility in Redlands, California, and has a 75% share in the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which hasn't produced power since 2012. Additionally, SCE's operations have been linked to wildfires in California, for which the company has been held responsible under the state's inverse condemnation principle.
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Transportation electrification
Southern California Edison (SCE) is the primary electric utility company for much of Southern California, providing 15 million people with electricity across a service territory of approximately 50,000 square miles. SCE's transportation electrification plan includes investing in programs and infrastructure to address major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from heavy commercial and industrial vehicles.
The transportation sector, including petroleum refining, accounts for about 50% of California's GHG emissions. SCE's plan includes more than $570 million in programs and infrastructure to support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the development of EV charging infrastructure. SCE offers incentives and rebates to help businesses and property owners with the costs of installing and maintaining EV charging stations.
The Charge Ready Transport Program supports plug-in and overhead charging for fleets, with most medium- and heavy-duty EVs capable of accepting both lower-power AC and higher-power DC charging. SCE also offers special rates for EV customers to simplify planning for charging their EV fleets.
In addition to its transportation electrification efforts, SCE is also working to increase the amount of renewable energy in its power mix. In 2016, 28.2% of SCE's power sources were renewable, and the company expects to derive 50% of its power from eligible renewable sources by 2030. SCE has invested in wind energy, solar power, and hydroelectric plants to achieve this goal.
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SCE's renewable energy goals
Southern California Edison (SCE), the largest subsidiary of Edison International, is the primary electric utility company for much of Southern California. It provides electricity to 15 million people across a service territory of approximately 50,000 square miles.
SCE has made significant strides in renewable energy in recent years. In 2014, SCE had a renewables mix of 23%, which increased to 28.2% in 2016. The company has set a target to derive 50% of its power from eligible renewable sources by 2030, including solar and wind energy. SCE's renewable energy goals are aligned with California's climate goals and the state's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS).
To achieve these goals, SCE has undertaken several initiatives. In 2006, the company planned to secure more than 1,500 megawatts of power from wind energy projects in the Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm area, tripling the size of any existing US wind farm. In 2008, SCE announced an $875 million project for a network of 250 megawatts of photovoltaic solar power generation, covering 65 million square feet of rooftops in Southern California. This project is expected to generate enough power for 162,000 homes. Additionally, SCE entered into a contract with Solar Millennium to purchase solar thermal power up to 726 MW.
SCE also offers its customers the option to obtain their electricity entirely from renewable sources through its Community Renewables Program. This program allows customers to subscribe to a specific renewables project and receive bill credits on their monthly SCE energy statements based on their subscribed portion of the project's output.
Furthermore, SCE has implemented measures to improve the efficiency of its existing infrastructure. In 2017, the company introduced two new hybrid electric gas turbine (EGT) units, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60%, lowering water usage, and improving the environmental impact of gas turbines. SCE also partnered with Ice Energy in 2014 to provide more efficient energy storage by freezing water at night when electricity is cheaper.
SCE is committed to creating a clean energy future for California, with lower energy costs, abundant jobs, and cleaner air. The company actively engages with the community through its assistance programs, helping individuals with their electric bills and mentoring underserved communities.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, SCE uses fossil fuels. In 2014, 23% of SCE's power came from renewable sources, with the remaining sourced from fossil fuels. In 2016, the percentage of renewable energy used by SCE increased to 28.2%.
SCE uses natural gas as a fossil fuel energy source.
SCE sources renewable energy from solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
