## SDG&E Unveils Cutting-Edge Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center to Combat Climate Change
As the climate crisis intensifies, utilities are facing unprecedented challenges. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is taking a proactive approach, unveiling its updated Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center – a hub of innovation dedicated to wildfire mitigation and grid safety. This advanced facility represents a significant leap forward in SDG&E’s commitment to building an electrical grid designed to withstand the impacts of climate change.
The new Center stands as a testament to SDG&E’s dedication to a future-proof energy system. It serves as a central point for research, development, and implementation of innovative solutions. By combining artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive modeling with shared technology and intelligence with emergency responders, the Center enables a swift and coordinated response to regional threats. This powerful combination also contributes to improved energy affordability by facilitating cost-efficient decision-making that helps mitigate risk at a lower cost for customers.
Leading the Charge in Climate Resilience
“Our commitment goes beyond reacting to climate challenges. We are focused on anticipating and preparing for them,” emphasized Caroline Winn, SDG&E’s Chief Executive Officer. “By leveraging strategic investments, collaborations, and community engagement, SDG&E is building the industry-leading platform to support a more sustainable, resilient energy grid that is better prepared to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”
The Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center also doubles as SDG&E’s new Emergency Operations Center, a crucial hub during extreme weather events and major disasters. Equipped with cutting-edge communication and coordination tools, the center is designed to enhance the safety of both employees and the public. The company’s climate resilience strategy is embodied in the Center, with a focus on:
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Advanced weather monitoring:
SDG&E operates one of the nation’s most sophisticated weather forecasting networks, offering real-time data to proactively address weather-related threats. The company’s systems utilize millions of historical weather data points dating back to 2010, aiding in the training of AI-based wind forecasting models, including one of the first AI-trained Santa Ana Wind Gust forecast models in the industry.*
AI and machine learning:
These cutting-edge technologies play a vital role in predicting and mitigating wildfire impacts on the energy grid. For example, SDG&E conducts over 10 million virtual wildfire simulations daily to inform operational wildfire risk models and uses over 3.8 million drone images of company infrastructure to train AI-based inspection models.*
Partnerships with academia:
SDG&E collaborates with leading academic institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, San Jose State University, San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center. These partnerships focus on developing weather products to better anticipate extreme events, visualize and share weather and fuel moisture data, analyze fire potential, and detect wildfires using real-time satellite data.*
Community collaboration:
SDG&E fosters close relationships with local communities and stakeholders to ensure inclusive and effective climate resilience efforts.*
Fire-resistant infrastructure:
The company continues to invest in fire-hardened systems, including undergrounding, steel poles, and vegetation management, to reduce wildfire risk.*
Workforce training:
Extensive training programs equip SDG&E’s workforce to effectively manage and maintain a resilient grid.Inspiring Future Generations
Beyond immediate operations, the Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center plays a crucial role in inspiring future energy professionals, advancing wildfire and climate science, and engaging local youth in climate resilience education through a new Resilience Zone. This engaging learning center features three climate science labs and a series of interactive exhibits designed to educate young students. It also serves as a platform for partnering with academia to advance and share wildfire and climate science as it relates to the energy grid.
SDG&E’s commitment to climate resilience extends beyond its new Center. The company is dedicated to a sustainable future by increasing energy delivered from low or zero-carbon sources, accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, and investing in innovative technologies to ensure the reliable operation of the region’s infrastructure for generations to come. This dedication has earned SDG&E recognition as a leader in its industry and community, receiving accolades such as the Corporate Partner of the Year at the San Diego Business Journal’s Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards and PA Consulting’s ReliabilityOne ® Award for Outstanding Reliability Performance for 18 consecutive years.
To learn more about SDG&E’s wildfire safety initiatives, visit sdge.com/wildfire-safety.