Mitsubishi leading utility-scale BESS projects

Southern Power has awarded Mitsubishi Power Americas Inc. and Powin an order for two utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totaling 640 MWh. These projects are designed to enhance California’s grid reliability with additional flexible resource capacity for integrating intermittent renewable energy into the grid.

The BESS projects are among the first collocated solar and storage projects in California and represent some of the largest retrofits of solar and storage in North America to date. They are designed for a 20-year life cycle and four hours of energy storage duration. Southern Power’s 205 MW Garland Solar Facility in Kern County will add 88 MW and 352 MWh of energy storage, and its 204 MW Tranquillity Solar Facility in Fresno County will add 72 MW and 288 MWh. Both projects are scheduled to come online in 2021.

The energy storage projects will be owned in partnership with AIP Management and Global Atlantic Financial Group, both of which have existing ownership interests in the Garland and Tranquillity solar facilities that went into commercial operation in 2016. Southern Power operates the solar projects and will be responsible for operating the energy storage projects upon completion.

These two energy storage projects align with Southern Power’s growth strategy of developing and acquiring projects covered by long-term contracts with strong credit counterparties.

Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. and Powin, LLC are helping Southern Power enhance the reliability of renewable energy in California with two utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.

“This award highlights the fact that large-scale solar PV paired with energy storage is cost-competitive,” said Geoff Brown, CEO of Powin. “We applaud Southern Power for taking this step toward helping California meet its clean energy goals with energy storage.”