California and Hawaii make strides towards clean energy goals with various companies bidding to build solar storage

Both California and Hawaii have made goals to produce 100% clean energy by 2045. As 2020 has started in an unexpected way, both states are continuing to make strides towards this goal with solar storage projects to increase electricity reliability.

Southern California Edison has secured seven contracts totaling in 770 MW of battery based energy storage. This is one of the country’s largest storage projects and will be co-located with current operating solar projects. This will enhance the reliability of the grid and utilities. This project was announced May 1st and is part of California’s clean energy transition. Following this news, Hawaiin Electric selected sixteen stolar-storage and battery projects totaling 460 MW of solar capacity. For the same purpose of reliability, Hawaii also is working to achieve their clean-energy development goal of 100% clean energy by 2045.

In Hawaii, the winners of this solar storage opportunity includes Canada’s Innergex Renewable Energy, Hawaiian Electric and various other leaders of the industry. In California, SCE’s storage plan includes Southern Power, TerraGen Power, NextEra Energy Resources, and LS Power. Below are the specifics of each project which range from 50 MW to 230 MW each with a ten to twenty year contract.

NextEra Energy in Riverside county secured the largest of the projects after announcing their Q1 earnings. This reflected their goal to invest more than $1 billion in battery storage over the year of 2021. This initial project has given that goal a strong start. For California to hit their 2045 solar goal, the CPUC has made a short term goal to require 1GW of long term storage by 2026 and triple their storage capacity.

“These new emissions-free projects will help us ensure the reliability of the grid for our customers and integrate an ever-increasing amount of clean renewable energy over the next decade.”

William Walsh; SCE vice president of energy procurement and management

Southern Power is a subsidiary of the Southern Company and is focused on investing in clean energy. They are the leading wholesale energy provider in the United States and are involved with various types of companies including commercial, industrial, and investor-owned utilities. With 11,920 MW of capacity across the country, Southern Power intends to optimize the benefits of this industry for their investors and customers.

Next Era Energy controls the development, construction, and operation of various methods of power generation. They offer fuel to utilities, retail electricity providers, industrial companies and more. However, they are also heavily involved in the renewable’s industry across North America by investing billions of dollars and working to develop solar and wind powered energy.

Terra-Gen Power is a subsidiary of the private equity firm Energy Capital Partners. They operate 1.3 GW of wind, solar and geothermal energy working to better the environment with clean energy. With various wind projects across the country, they only have two solar plants. Both of these are located in California, but although they are a smaller company, this opportunity marks the ability for expansion and their dedication to efficiency by investing in storage.

LS Power has managed all aspects of the energy industry and since 1990 they have managed more than 42,000 MW of power generation and raised more than $45 billion in debt and equity financing. Now they are aiming to create more green energy through solar and wind projects and improving efficiency in North America.