Southern California Edison contracts four projects to add 590 MW of battery energy storage

Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed long-term contracts for four projects that will bring 590 MW of battery energy storage to the region and increase its total installed and procured storage resources to approximately 2,050 MWs.

The bulk of the new energy will stem from three of the four projects, all lithium-ion battery based, which will account for 585 MW. The remaining 5 MW will come from a demand response contract that pulls energy from customer-owned energy storage. In reaching out to those areas most affected by air pollution, economically impacted communities will be tapped for 5 percent of the MWs for that project.

“Bringing more utility-scale battery storage resources online will improve the reliability of the grid and further the integration of renewable generation resources, like wind and solar, into the grid,” William Walsh, SCE vice president of Energy Procurement & Management, said. “As California transitions to 100% clean, renewable energy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, battery storage will play a key role in harnessing the value of these cost-effective, carbon-free resources in a reliable manner.”

Procurement of the new projects followed a competitive process first initiated by SCE last year. They come in addition to the acquisition of 770 MWs of energy storage by the company in May. Of the four projects, two are expected to be brought online by August 2022 and two by August 2023, respectively, if they gain the California Public Utilities Commission’s approval.