2020 Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West: California Department of Water Resources
State- and city-level efforts are essential in our fight against climate change, especially in the field of energy. Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West (SEICW)—an energy-related summer internship program—places some of Stanford University’s best students in key and influential positions in the local energy and climate-related ecosystem. This position is funded; you will be one of two Stanford students placed at the Department of Water Resources (DWR); their office is located in Sacramento, California.
The program runs from Monday, June 22, 2020 to Friday, August 28, 2020.
Organization/Agency mission or role in state government
The State Water Project (SWP) is one of the largest water and power systems in the world. It is a water storage and delivery system of reservoirs, aqueducts, power plants, and pumping plants extending more than 700 miles—two-thirds the length of California. It conveys, on average, 2.4 million acre-feet of water annually to 29 long-term water contractors through 20 pumping plants, eight hydroelectric power plants (includes three pumping-generating plants), 25 dams, and 34 reservoirs. This infrastructure includes the world’s highest earth-filled dam (Oroville Dam) and the largest single lift pumps (close to 2000 feet) to move water over the Tehachapi Mountains into southern California. Though the primary purpose of the SWP is water supply, the project produces hydroelectric power to operate pumping facilities required to move water from Northern to Southern California, and also sells power when it generates a surplus of electricity.
The State Water Project Power and Risk Office (PARO) is responsible for strategizing and procuring long-term power and transmission resources for the project. The objective is to have a process in place to plan the SWP portfolio of energy resources to ensure reliable, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of water to State Water Contractors. To be able to accomplish these goals there is a need to closely follow energy market drivers that may result in change of energy market design, energy price profiles, renewables development costs, reliability obligations and mandates. There are some key drivers in the power market, and the SWP needs to track, analyze, and adjust its operations strategies to mitigate future impacts on SWP power portfolio.
Potential Projects
- Conduct power planning study for SWP operational strategy: The Power and Risk Office is continuously performing power planning studies to assess changes to SWP operational strategies that would better respond to power market changes in price trends and opportunities. These studies include modelling future SWP operations and assessing the viability of retrofits and capital improvements needed to add flexibility to the system to better position the State Water Project for future energy markets.
- Assess viability of solar and battery storage at SWP pumping plants: The State Water Project is assessing the addition of more renewables to its power portfolio in order to move from 65% to 75% zero-emissions resources. The Water and Energy Efficiency Branch at PARO will be performing an assessment for the viability of integrating Solar and Battery Storage at SWP Pumping Plants. The study will include modeling changes to SWP operational strategies that would better utilize the on-site Solar and Battery Storage. The assessment will include fatal Flaw Analysis, site assessment, integration technologies, economic viability, and power market assessments.
Mentors
- Ghassan ALQaser, Ph.D., Chief, Power and Risk Office
- Basic knowledge of power engineering and economics
- Basic knowledge of the CAISO energy market
- Basic knowledge of California energy and climate policies and Integrated Resource Planning (IRP)
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Quick and eager learner
- Preferred: Modeling, analytical skills using quantitative analysis and computer software, etc.
- All SEICW students must be enrolled in the spring quarter before their SEICW internship. Absolutely no exceptions are made to this rule.
- All SEICW students must take a one-unit workshop spring course, 'Energy Policy in California and the West' taught by Bruce Cain and Sally Benson that will provide an in-depth analysis of the role of California state agencies, the Western Interstate Energy Board, and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council in driving energy policy development, technology innovation, and market structures. Course number is CEE 263G / POLISCI 73 / PUBLPOL 73. This course must be taken in person.
Please note that this opportunity is for graduate students. Interested undergraduates can apply via SIG.
