SDG&E Advances Climate Preparedness with Launch of State-of-the-Art Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center

Rhea-AI Summary

SDG&E has launched an updated Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center, featuring advanced technology for wildfire mitigation and grid safety. The center integrates AI and predictive modeling with emergency response capabilities, conducting over 10 million virtual wildfire simulations daily and utilizing 3.8 million drone images for AI-based inspection models. The facility includes sophisticated weather forecasting networks and serves as SDG&E's Emergency Operations Center during extreme weather events. The center also features a Resilience Zone with climate science labs and interactive exhibits for education and research partnerships with leading academic institutions.

Positive

• Implementation of advanced AI and machine learning technology for wildfire prediction and mitigation
• Cost-efficient decision-making system potentially reducing operational expenses
• Strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions enhancing research capabilities
• Investment in fire-resistant infrastructure improving grid reliability

Negative

• Significant ongoing investment required for technology and infrastructure upgrades
• Operating environment becoming more challenging for utilities

Insights

Technology Risk Analyst

The launch of SDG&E's advanced Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center represents a significant technological leap in utility infrastructure protection. The integration of AI-powered predictive modeling conducting over 10 million daily wildfire simulations and processing 3.8 million drone images demonstrates unprecedented scale in infrastructure monitoring. This proactive approach to risk management could potentially reduce operational costs and minimize service disruptions.

The system's ability to leverage historical weather data since 2010 for AI training, combined with real-time monitoring, positions SDG&E at the forefront of utility risk management. The emphasis on fire-resistant infrastructure and strategic partnerships with academic institutions strengthens the company's long-term resilience strategy. While the initial investment is substantial, the potential reduction in wildfire-related losses and improved operational efficiency should provide positive ROI for shareholders.

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the operating environment for utilities becomes more challenging, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is stepping up to lead the energy sector in climate preparedness. The company has unveiled its updated cutting-edge Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center, innovating in wildfire mitigation and grid safety.

SDG&E's new Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center is the latest innovation in the company's commitment to building an electrical grid designed to withstand the intensifying effects of climate change. One of the most technologically advanced in the industry, the Center serves as a hub for research, development and implementation of innovative solutions by bringing AI and predictive modeling together with shared technology and intelligence with emergency responders to help enable a swift and integrated response to regional threats. The combination of extensive data and advanced modeling also contributes to improved energy affordability by enabling cost-efficient decision-making that helps reduce risk at a lower cost for customers.

"Our commitment goes beyond reacting to climate challenges. We are focused on anticipating and preparing for them," said 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 serves as SDG&E's new Emergency Operations Center, a critical hub during extreme weather events and major disasters. Equipped with advanced communication and coordination tools, the center is designed to enhance safety for employees and the public.

The company's Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center is a centralized focal point of SDG&E's climate resilience strategy:

• Advanced weather monitoring: SDG&E operates one of the nation's most sophisticated weather forecasting networks, offering real-time data to better anticipate and address weather-related threats. The company's systems use millions of historical weather data points going back to 2010 to assist in training 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 can help predict and mitigate wildfire impacts on the energy grid. For example, SDG&E conducts more than 10 million virtual wildfire simulations daily to inform operational wildfire risk models, and uses more than 3.8 million drone images of company infrastructure to train AI-based inspection models.
• Partnerships with academia: SDG&E partners 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 to develop 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 works closely with local communities and stakeholders to achieve more 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, that aim to reduce wildfire risk.
• Workforce training: Extensive training programs are equipping SDG&E's workforce to manage and maintain a resilient grid.

Beyond immediate operations, the Wildfire and Climate Resilient Center plays a vital 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 fun and engaging learning center includes three climate science labs, and a series of interactive exhibits designed to educate young students and partner with academia to advance and share wildfire and climate science as it relates to the energy grid.  

To learn more about SDG&E's wildfire safety initiatives, visit sdge.com/wildfire-safety.

About SDG&E
SDG&E is an innovative energy delivery company that provides clean, safe and reliable energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company is committed to creating 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. SDG&E is a recognized leader in its industry and community, as demonstrated by being named Corporate Partner of the Year at the San Diego Business Journal's Nonprofit & Corporate Citizenship Awards and receiving PA Consulting's ReliabilityOne^® Award for Outstanding Reliability Performance for 18 consecutive years. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading North American energy infrastructure company. For more information, visit SDGEtoday.com or connect with SDG&E on social media @SDGE.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In this press release, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "contemplate," "plan," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "envision," "should," "could," "would," "will," "confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in process," "construct," "develop," "opportunity," "preliminary," "initiative," "target," "outlook," "optimistic," "poised," "positioned," "maintain," "continue," "progress," "advance," "goal," "aim," "commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities, projections, intentions or expectations.

Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: California wildfires, including potential liability for damages regardless of fault and any inability to recover all or a substantial portion of costs from insurance, the wildfire fund established by California Assembly Bill 1054, rates from customers or a combination thereof; decisions, investigations, inquiries, regulations, denials or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions, including the failure to honor contracts and commitments, by the (i) California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S. and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein where we do business; the success of business development efforts and construction projects, including risks related to (i) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (ii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, (iii) obtaining third-party consents and approvals and (iv) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments; macroeconomic trends or other factors that could change our capital expenditure plans and their potential impact on rate base or other growth; litigation, arbitration and other proceedings, and changes (i) to laws and regulations, including those related to tax and trade policy and (ii) due to the results of elections; cybersecurity threats, including by state and state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems or the systems of third parties with which we conduct business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure; the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources and our ability to borrow money on favorable terms and meet our obligations, including due to (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, or (iii) rising interest rates and inflation; the impact on affordability of our customer rates and our cost of capital and on our ability to pass through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in inflation, interest rates and commodity prices and (ii) the cost of meeting the demand for lower carbon and reliable energy in California; the impact of climate policies, laws, rules, regulations, trends and required disclosures, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and uncertainty related to emerging technologies; weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events, such as work stoppages, that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; the availability of electric power, natural gas and natural gas storage capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the transmission grid, pipeline system or limitations on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.

These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that the company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.

Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sdge-advances-climate-preparedness-with-launch-of-state-of-the-art-wildfire-and-climate-resilience-center-302286619.html

SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)

FAQ

What new technology has SDG&E implemented in its Wildfire and Climate Resilience Center?

The center features AI-based wind forecasting models, conducts over 10 million virtual wildfire simulations daily, and uses 3.8 million drone images for AI-based infrastructure inspection.

How does SDG&E's new center improve weather monitoring capabilities?

The center operates one of the nation's most sophisticated weather forecasting networks, using millions of historical weather data points since 2010 to train AI-based wind forecasting models.

Which academic institutions has SDG&E partnered with for its climate resilience efforts?

SDG&E partners with Scripps Institution of Oceanography, San Jose State University, San Diego Supercomputer Center, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center.