Hummingbird Substation Transmission Line

• Year2024

• LocationSan Jose, CA

Located in San Jose, California along an existing business park corridor, the Hummingbird Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project was delivered under a full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) scope and included the construction of a 115 kV underground transmission line, a 115 kV project substation to support the associated 103,000-square-foot indoor BESS facility. Designed to interconnect with Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) Metcalf Substation, the project strengthens grid reliability and supports California’s clean energy goals.

CBI Power, Inc. utilized trenchless construction methods to install approximately 44,000 linear feet of underground transmission conduit along a busy urban corridor. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was used extensively to limit surface disruption and maintain traffic flow during construction. The alignment also included the installation of six (6) precast concrete utility vaults to support long-term maintenance and access needs. A key portion of the work involved a jack-and-bore crossing of over 300 linear feet beneath the Union Pacific Railroad, where a 48-inch steel casing was installed to safely house transmission infrastructure without interrupting rail operations.

All civil and electrical scopes were completed with a focus on safety, quality, and minimal impact to the surrounding community, resulting in a facility that will play a vital role in advancing California’s energy storage capacity and grid resiliency.