Clearway Energy has begun commercial operations at a new solar plus storage project, located next to the decommissioned Coolwater gas-fired power facility in San Bernardino County, California, US.
The Daggett solar-plus storage project includes a 482MW solar farm and a 280MW battery energy storage system, making it one of the largest hybrid power plants in the country.
The project can produce enough clean energy for 181,000 households. The stored electricity can be used during peak demand hours to support grid reliability.
During the construction phase, more than 500 jobs have been created.
Finnish power source and equipment manufacturer Wärtsilä supplied the battery storage system.
The Daggett complex will be built in three stages. The final 113.5MW of battery storage will begin operations in 2025.
The storage facility’s total capacity will be 394MW. Once complete, this capacity will be contracted to a utility off-taker.
The project will add $18.5m in local tax revenues while $5m will be spent annually during operations. More than a dozen full-time jobs will be created during the operations phase.
Power from the project will be supplied to six local utilities: the Clean Power Alliance, Constellation, East Bay Community Energy (to be renamed Ava Community Energy), MCE, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the Southern California Public Power Authority.
Clearway Energy Group CEO Craig Cornelius stated: “The Daggett solar plus storage project embodies the path we’re on to California’s clean and reliable energy future.
“The project has brought a billion-dollar investment to an energy transition community and will provide clean, reliable and low-cost power to California homes and businesses for years to come.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom stated: “This is exactly the sort of innovation and big thinking that California needs, repurposing old fossil fuel infrastructure to build one of the biggest solar and battery projects in the country.
“With projects like this, we’ll achieve a 100% clean electric grid and drastically cut pollution to combat climate change – all while creating good-paying jobs.”
