Today, Calpine and GE Renewable Energy completed the Santa Ana Storage Project (SASP) in Southern California, the companies announced in a media release. Accordingly, this project contains a 20MW/80MWh (4hr) standalone battery energy storage system; specifically, this system uses and leverages GE’s Reservoir energy storage technology.
Read more of our news content, here; Pumped hydro storage plant project receives FERC preliminary permit
About the Santa Ana Storage Project
Indeed, a 20-year Resource Adequacy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) supported the system, which is now in commercial operation. In this way, the project will be able to provide energy to up to 12,000 households during peak events; also to 24,000 homes during normal load conditions.
In fact, this grid-connected battery energy storage system represents a significant step forward in Calpine’s plans, the Company shared. Therefore, the asset will leverage it to grow its energy storage footprint. Accordingly, the SASP facility itself will be open to considerable expansion in future phases.
About Calpine Corporation
Worth noting, Calpine Corporation is the US’s largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources. Consequently, the company has operations in major competitive wholesale and retail power markets across the country.
Therefore, through wholesale power operations and our retail businesses, Calpine’s has a diverse team of approximately 2,300 employees. Besides, it serves customers across 22 states, Canada and Mexico.
Lastly, Calpine operates a fleet of 76 power plants representing nearly 26,000 MW of generation capacity. Notably, the company is intensely focused on increasing its environmental stewardship within its philosophy and culture; therefore, Calpine has been a long-time advocate of the Clean Power Plan, Paris Climate Accord, carbon pricing, and decarbonization.
About GE Renewable Energy
On the other hand, GE Renewable Energy is a $15 billion business that combines one of the broadest portfolios in the renewable energy industry; particularly, to provide end-to-end solutions for our customers demanding reliable and affordable green power.
Accordingly, the company combines onshore and offshore wind, blades, hydro, storage, utility-scale solar, and grid solutions. To date, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts of clean, renewable energy and equipped more than 90% of utilities worldwide with its grid solutions.
In this sense, Alex Makler, Senior Vice President of Calpine’s West Region, commented in the media release; “Indeed, consumers must have affordable, reliable electricity; particularly, as we work to integrate more renewable energy sources into the U.S. power supply.”
Moreover, Makler commented that “Calpine already operates the world’s largest geothermal facility in California.” Therefore, “this cutting-edge battery storage project represents another major investment in meeting the clean energy demands of an increasingly electrified world,” added Capine’s Vice President.
Thus “we are proud to work with GE and the community of Santa Ana to showcase the very latest in energy storage solutions,” Makler concluded.
Reception
Similarly, Mike Bowman, Renewable Hybrids Chief Technology Officer for GE Renewable Energy, commented; “The energy storage system provides targeted local capacity to enhance grid reliability during peak periods.”
So, “as fast-acting stabilization devices, the battery energy storage systems can charge and discharge rapidly to regulate frequency and contribute to grid stability,” continued bowman. Thus, “helping to balance and facilitate the ever-growing penetration of variable renewable energy. Lastly, these assets will assist with making California’s state targets of 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2045.”
Worth noting, GE’s Reservoir is a flexible, compact solution that combines GE’s advanced technologies and expertise, the Company noted. Particularly, GE leverages its knowledge in plant controls, power electronics, battery management systems, and electrical balance of plant.
