RWE has continued to expand its renewables portfolio in the USA by connecting its first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) to the California independent system operator. The project, Fifth Standard, also includes a 150 MWac solar PV facility, expected to be completed in August this year. The BESS facility, at 137 MWac, 548 MWh, and located in Fresno County California, is the company's largest to date. The battery storage has the capacity to send 137 MW to the grid over a four-hour period.
"Projects like Fifth Standard, with its co-located battery storage system, will become increasingly important to help ensure that as renewables form a bigger part of the energy mix, the electricity produced can be used when it is needed most," said Mark Noyes, CEO of RWE Clean Energy. "In our case, future growth is backed by project development pipeline comprising more than 24 GW in onshore wind, solar and battery storage, one of the largest in the USA."
Fifth Standard is located 45 miles SW of Fresno, will consist of 369 334 PV panels and cover 1600 acres. The project supports California's clean energy goals as the state works toward its net zero goal of 2045.
The solar panels onsite will include a racking system with solar trackers, and excess energy not sent to the grid will be stored in the on-site BESS.
Fifth Standard is expected to generate up to $10 million in revenue to local taxing jurisdictions during its lifetime. During peak construction, the project will employ more than 300 workers.
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