EDP energy storage project joins existing California solar array

EDP Renewables North America has finished building a large battery storage system, called Sandrini Energy Storage, in Kern County, California. The battery system can hold 368 megawatt-hours of power and release it at 92 megawatts, and it sits next to an existing 300-megawatt solar farm, Sandrini Solar, that was already operating in the area. Battery storage like this lets solar power get saved up during the day and used later, including at night or when demand is high, instead of only being available while the sun is shining.

The Redwood Coast Energy Authority, a local power provider, has agreed to use all of the battery's storage capacity and part of the solar farm's output. The project is expected to bring in $5 million in local revenue for things like schools, roads and emergency services, and it supported about 50 construction jobs.

This news is about utility-scale power infrastructure rather than home equipment, so it does not involve a rebate or program a homeowner would apply for. But it's a sign that battery storage paired with solar is expanding in California, which can affect how reliable and available clean power is on the local grid. EDP now has over 1.2 gigawatts of wind, solar and storage capacity in the state, enough to supply power for more than 485,000 homes.