SCH Number 2025120093

Project Info

Title

Encino Reservoir Floating Solar Pilot Project

Description

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is proposing the Encino Reservoir Floating Solar Pilot Project. The Proposed Project constructs a 5-megawatt (MW), 10-acre floating solar panel array that would be located on the southwest portion of Encino Reservoir. An approximately 4,000 square-foot 30-kilowatt (kW), ground-mount photovoltaic system would also be installed in the southwest area of the reservoir property. All associated electrical components including inverters, transformers, and switchgear would be located adjacent to the ground-mount system. All electrical equipment would interconnect to the existing 34.5- kilovolt (kV) above ground distribution line within the Encino Reservoir property. In addition to the solar components as discussed above, a 5-MW, 20-megawatt hours (MWh) iron-flow battery energy storage system would be installed on an approximately 6,500 square-foot area north of the reservoir. The Proposed Project is to help meet renewable energy goals set by the State of California and the City of Los Angeles (City) to reduce reliance on carbon-based energy sources. The Proposed Project is estimated to generate approximately 10,280 MWh of clean, renewable energy annually. The energy produced would be enough to serve approximately 2,677 homes per year, thereby offsetting 2,854 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the equivalent of eliminating 671 cars from the road per year. The primary purpose of the Proposed Project is to determine the viability of floating solar as a technology that can provide opportunities for additional renewable energy generation within the LADWP system, especially within the in-basin area. The Proposed Project site is located within the Encino Reservoir property at 4500 Encino Avenue in the Encino neighborhood of the City. The Encino Reservoir property is approximately 960 acres and owned and operated by LADWP. The property is closed to the public. Within the property is the approximately 130-acre reservoir, encircled by a paved perimeter access road. The Encino Reservoir property is generally bound by the Santa Monica Mountains to the south and single-family residences to the north, west, and east. The property is located in the Encino-Tarzana Community Plan Area of the City, has a General Plan land use designation of OS (Open Space), and is zoned OS-1XL (Open Space). The Proposed Project facilities are located within the interior of the property. Construction of the proposed project is anticipated to start in Summer 2026 and is anticipated to conclude in Summer 2027.

2 documents in project