The Barren Ridge/RE Cinco Substation consists of one (1) 250/34.5 kV transformer and (3) 34.5 kV feeders to support interconnection of a 60 MW solar project in southcentral California. The Barren Ridge Solar Transmission Line is a 250 kV gen-tie transmission line that connects the Barren Ridge Solar Substation to LADWP’s Barren Ridge Switching Station. The Barren Ridge Solar Project went on-line in September 2016 and distributes power to approximately 25,000 California homes.

This project was completed as a design-build with ECI’s subsidiary, EPC Services (EPCS), as the General Contractor. ECI was responsible for engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, construction management and project management associated with the substation and transmission facilities. ECI’s substation engineering included complete physical/electrical design, protection and control design, civil and communications design and preparation of various studies. The Barren Ridge/RE Cinco Substation design involved use of high voltage equipment with a nameplate rating at 262 kV maximum continuous operating voltage.

The Barren Ridge/RE Cinco Project utilized the first ever TESLA lithium ion battery storage system. ECI designed the electrical architecture of the station service system, incorporating the 300 kWH TESLA system to provide auxiliary power in the evenings to all AC loads in the facility.