Con Edison Development plans to deploy a 2GW battery energy storage project in California

　　The Imperial County Government of California recently approved a deployment plan for a battery energy storage project with a total installed capacity of up to 2GW. The project will deploy a combination of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems and flow battery energy storage systems.

　　The Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted at a meeting on December 7 to conditionally approve the deployment of a large-scale Westside Canal battery energy storage project proposed by the vertically integrated energy developer Con Edison Development.

　　As a subsidiary of Edison United Electric Company, Con Edison Development Company will acquire a 163-acre agricultural land in Imperial County to build this project, which has been idle for approximately 20 years. The battery energy storage system of the project will occupy approximately 148 acres of site, and Edison United Electric will also build a bridge over the nearby canal for passage.

　　Con Edison Development submitted a document on the development of this project in April 2020. The document stated that the project will be constructed in stages within 10 years.

　　Curtis Taylor, director of business development at Edison United Electric, said that the installed capacity of each stage of the project is between 25MW and 300MW. The specific scale depends on market requirements and the chance of obtaining long-term contracts at that time.

　　The battery energy storage system in this project may use a combination of lithium-ion batteries and flow batteries, which will be connected to the grid of the Imperial Valley substation after it is opened. Taylor pointed out that the Imperial Valley power station is a strategically important power hub that can transport electricity from California to neighboring states.

　　Curtis Taylor said that the Westside battery energy storage project will employ about 200 workers during the peak period of construction and will create 5 to 10 local jobs after it is put into operation. The project will also bring millions of dollars in tax revenue to the county and will promote the economic development of the region.

　　After the project is opened, it will increase the utilization rate of existing and new solar power generation facilities in the area. Cristina Marquez, a local representative of the International Brotherhood of Electronic Workers (IBEW), pointed out at the public consultation meeting that the deployment of battery energy storage systems is not only crucial for the state to get rid of fossil fuels, but can also create high-paying jobs.

　　Marquez said that with the phased construction of the project, it provides development potential for the job market in the area. He urged the relevant agencies in Imperial County to provide support for the project after approval. Raymond Castillo, chairman of the fifth district of Imperial County, said the deployment of this battery energy storage project can bring a lot of taxes to the area.

　　So far, Con Edison Development has installed and put into operation a 100MW battery energy storage system in the United States, and is deploying a battery energy storage system with a total energy storage capacity of 1GWh. In addition, the company has currently installed 3GW solar power generation facilities and 500MW wind power generation facilities, including approximately 800MW solar power generation facilities deployed in California, such as the 100MW Wistaria solar power generation facility opened in Imperial County in 2018.

　　The Westside battery energy storage project will promote the rapid growth of California's battery energy storage capacity. Considering the state's climate goals and energy shortages during the summer peak period, its growth rate may not be fast enough. According to reports, the battery energy storage system deployed in California also includes a portfolio of three energy storage projects with a total energy storage capacity of 2.1GWh being deployed by Southern California Edison, and 226MWh vanadium deployed by the Central Coast Community Energy Company in the solar power plant. Flow battery energy storage system.

　　Lithium-ion battery (LIB) has become the main energy storage solution in modern social life. Among them, lithium iron phosphate batteries are a perfect replacement for lead-acid batteries, and they are the first choice for grid-connected peak shaving, off-grid energy storage, photovoltaic energy storage, UPS, data center and other industries.

　　Solar power generation system with lithium battery energy storage system is a very promising clean energy.