NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, recently highlighted a suite of clean energy storage developments in California that could nearly double the total installed capacity of battery storage available in the United States today. The company plans to build nearly 700 MW of fully-contracted battery storage projects in the state before the end of 2022.
The battery storage projects will be co-located at six existing NextEra Energy Resources solar projects and include the previously announced:
- 63 MW at Blythe 110 Solar Energy Center
- 115 MW at Blythe II Solar Energy Center
- 115 MW at Blythe III Solar Energy Center
- 230 MW at the McCoy Solar Energy Center
- 110 MW at the Arlington Solar Energy Center
- 65 MW at the Yellow Pine Solar Energy Center
"California needs significant investment in battery storage to meet its aggressive clean energy goals. NextEra Energy Resources is answering the call with nearly 700 MW of battery storage projects representing a capital investment of nearly US$800 million," said NextEra Energy Resources President and CEO John Ketchum. "We are pleased that the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) approved all 523 MW of the projects that required CPUC approval. Once these projects are operational by the end of 2022, Californians will benefit from more low-cost, emission-free solar energy during more hours of the day, as well as improved reliability across the regional electric grid."
In addition to the fully-contracted projects that are expected to come online by the end of 2022, NextEra Energy Resources has a current pipeline of nearly 2000 MW of shovel-ready or near shovel-ready battery energy storage projects in California that could be deployed to help meet the energy storage capacity requirements put forth by the CPUC.
The company's planned and pipeline of battery storage projects in California is nearly twice the total installed capacity of battery storage in the United States today (approximately 1350 MW). The build-out of the 2000-MW energy storage pipeline is contingent on obtaining long-term power purchase agreements for the projects as well as the necessary regulatory approvals.
NextEra Energy Resources is also ready to construct Eagle Mountain, a 1300-MW pumped storage project located near Desert Center, California. Eagle Mountain is a fully-permitted, shovel-ready project that could provide up to 18 hours of energy storage. It represents a bulk energy storage solution that diversifies California storage supply and provides additional grid flexibility in the event of multiday events, such as summer heat waves and winter storms when cloud cover reduces solar generation. While Eagle Mountain is fully permitted, the potential project needs the appropriate regulatory construct in order to move forward.
