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Twentynine Palms Microgrid | California | Marine | GE

Current status, energy mix, organizations, suppliers, equipment, controls, reported specifications, and project updates—with source-level citations.

CoverageDetailed public record
Named organizations6
System facts24
Sources reviewed8
Evidence reviewed2026-07-20

This record is the main-site microgrid at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms, not the separate small tank-range Go Electric/Saft microgrid. The historical system integrated 16.4 MW of natural-gas CHP (7.2 MW commissioned in 2003 plus 9.2 MW in 2013), roughly 4.8–6 MW of distributed PV, a 576 kWh demonstration battery and GE controls, with Southern California Edison as grid supply. Newer projects are expanding the control boundary and proposing 10 MW of modular BESS; the new battery was not confirmed commissioned by July 2026.

Research status
The main microgrid and CHP/PV portfolio are operational as last confirmed, able to island roughly one-third of installation load. A 2017 expansion extended controls across the base. A FY2024-authorized P-1238 project sought 10 MW of BESS tied to a newer P-1232 microgrid, but a Q2 FY2025 federal report still listed it unawarded and 2025 NAVFAC projections still showed procurement/construction timing. Treat 10 MW storage as development, not installed capacity; no 2026 award/commissioning evidence was found.
Historical classification
CHP
Reported capacity
13 MW
Coordinates
34.23330, -116.05543
Evidence note: “Every company” cannot be proven from public material alone. This page lists every organization found in the recovered record and reviewed sources, preserves unknown roles, and explicitly marks undisclosed controller or equipment details.
Report missing evidenceResearch methodology

Project delivery

Who was involved in Twentynine Palms Microgrid | California | Marine | GE?

6 publicly identified organizations. Where a recovered source named a participant without explaining its work, the role remains explicitly unspecified.

Organization

GE

Publicly named participant; role not specified in the recovered record [1]

Organization

GE Digital Energy

Original U90+ microgrid controller and supervisory software supplier/integrator. [2][8]

Organization

Johnson Controls

Energy-services/CHP and building-automation partner. [3][8]

Organization

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest

Design/construction and procurement authority for microgrid and BESS expansions. [5][7]

Organization

Southern California Edison

Serving electric utility and normal grid source. [3]

Organization

U.S. Marine Corps / MCAGCC Twentynine Palms

Installation owner, host and operator. [2][3]

System evidence

Energy mix, capacity, and specifications

Values can describe different project phases, generation sources, storage systems, or other components. Source citations are attached to each figure so discrepancies remain visible.

KW Solar
6000 [1]
KW Gas/Diesel
16400 [1]
Storage
576 kWh [1]
CHP
7.2 MW natural-gas cogeneration commissioned 2003 plus 9.2 MW commissioned/installed around 2013, 16.4 MW aggregate. Both recover heat for domestic hot water, heating and absorption/chilled-water systems; detailed prime-mover models are not public. [3][2][8]
Solar PV
Marine strategy reports 4.8 MW including a 1.2 MW array; a 2015 environmental assessment says over 5 MW and later legacy material rounds to 6 MW. These are dated boundary/growth differences, not one precise simultaneous rating. [2][4]
Original storage
576 kWh advanced battery in legacy project material; power rating, chemistry, vendor and current condition were not verified. [8]
Proposed new storage
P-1238: 10 MW described as a 6.5 MW base plus option items (solicitation text inconsistently says 4 MW of options, totaling 10.5 MW), about 30 modular BESS units at two locations. No MWh/duration was published. [5][6]
Islanded scope
Roughly one-third of total base load/mission-essential operations, with controlled shedding across more than 240 buildings; not whole-base indefinite autonomy. [2]
Energy mix
Natural-gas CHP, distributed PV, SCE imports and storage; emergency/other generation exists but no current annual source split is public. [2][4]

Controls and hardware

Equipment and controller details

Manufacturer and model are shown only when a source names them. Generic descriptions are not converted into guessed product assignments.

01

Microgrid controller

GE — U90+

Original controller integrated Proficy HMI/SCADA CIMPLICITY and interfaces to plant/building systems; later expansion product revisions are not public. [8]

02

Building controls

Johnson Controls / Rockwell Automation

Metasys and FactoryTalk interfaces supported building automation, telemetry and load shedding. [8]

03

CHP

Model not publicly disclosed

Two natural-gas cogeneration phases totaling 16.4 MW with heat recovery/chilled-water integration; turbine/generator models undisclosed. [3][4]

04

P-1238 BESS

Model not publicly disclosed

Proposed high-energy-density batteries, bidirectional inverters and cyber-accredited controls; OEM, chemistry and MWh not selected/disclosed in reviewed procurement material. [5]

Technical record

Architecture, performance, and project updates

Concise technical facts, milestones, operating results, and later developments. Dated notes distinguish historical design claims from current evidence.

  • Management

    • GE U90+ Microgrid Controller [1]

  • Management

    GE Proficy HMI/SCADA CIMPLICITY [1]

  • Storage

    Advanced energy storage system [1]

  • Generation

    Solar PV [1]

  • Generation

    2 CHP Facilities: [1]

  • Generation

    A 7.2 MW unit (installed 2003); system has “black start capability” [1]

  • Generation

    A 9.2 MW system (installed 2013) [1]

  • Operating architecture

    Grid-connected economic dispatch normally; automatic/controlled islanding, black start and load shedding use CHP, PV and storage to sustain prioritized loads. [2][5]

  • CHP performance

    A Marine account said the original 7.2 MW plant plus 1.2 MW PV supplied nearly 60% of base energy at that time and saved over US$7 million in the preceding year. This predates the full current portfolio. [3]

  • Cybersecurity

    Original controls were described as meeting DoD cybersecurity criteria; P-1238 similarly requires accredited BESS controls. [2][5]

  • Phase boundary

    P-1238 BESS and P-1232/new microgrid work are expansions still in procurement/development. The separate 100 kW-generator tank-range microgrid is outside the main-site totals. [5][7]

Provenance

8 sources

Primary owner, government, university, supplier, and engineering sources are preferred. Archived references preserve claims whose original pages moved or disappeared.

  1. [1]
    Recovered Microgrid Projects record

    Internet Archive · Archived source · captured 2021-01-20

  2. [2]
  3. [3]
    Plant provides green energy, cost savings

    MCAGCC Twentynine Palms · Primary source

  4. [4]
    Final Environmental Assessment for Solar PV System

    U.S. Navy / MCAGCC · Primary source

  5. [5]
  6. [6]
    FY2021 Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program

    U.S. Department of Defense Comptroller · Primary source

  7. [7]
  8. [8]
    Recovered Twentynine Palms project equipment record

    Internet Archive / Microgrid Projects · Archived source

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