Utility Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed seven contracts totalling 770MW for battery energy storage to help enhance the US state’s electric system reliability needs and integrate new renewable power.
SCE said the projects will also help address potential energy shortfalls identified in California.
Most of the projects are co-located with an adjacent solar power plant to charge the battery over the term of the contract.
The projects will be located at the same point of interconnection and will be the first of their kind on California’s grid, SCE said.
Three storage projects – the 115MW each Blythe 2 and 3 and 230MW McCoy – will be delivered by NextEra Energy Resources.
Southern Power will build the 72MW Tranquility and 88MW Garland projects, TerraGen Power the 50MW Sanborn and LS Power the 100MW Gateway 1-2.
All the projects are due online by 1 August next year.
The contracts, which range in length from 10 to 20 years, require approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.
SCE is expected to submit the contracts for approval later this month.
SCE vice president of energy procurement and management William Walsh said: “These new emissions-free projects will help us ensure the reliability of the grid for our customers and integrate an ever-increasing amount of clean renewable energy over the next decade.
“Signing these contracts aligns with SCE’s Pathway 2045 continues our support of California’s goal to green the state and also encourages clean energy projects of all types, creating jobs and strengthening our economy.”