The energy storage business of vertically integrated solar module manufacturer Canadian Solar has got a boost with the company, along with Axium Infrastructure, grid connecting a 350 MW/1,400 MWh standalone energy storage project in California as the world's 'largest' single phase energy storage project.
The Canadian/Chinese PV company calls this the 2nd largest energy storage project currently operating globally. It is also the 1st standalone energy storage facility to have been approved to be sited on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands under the current administration (see 350 MW Solar+350 MW Storage Project Approved In US).
Canadian Solar realized the Riverside County located Crimson Storage Project through its subsidiaries Recurrent Energy that developed the facility, and CSI Energy Storage that provided EPC services. The latter will also provide long term operational services. Recurrent and Axium will operate the system in California wholesale power market.
Explaining the importance of the facility, Canadian Solar stated that Crimson Storage will enable customers to obtain carbon-free energy and will also provide grid stability during peak demand.
"On average, Crimson Storage will store and dispatch enough electricity to power more than 47,000 homes each year and will displace as much as 275,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and 47 tons of nitrogen oxides emissions annually, compared to generation by natural gas fired turbines," added Canadian Solar.
Crimson Storage has executed 2 contracts already, including one with Southern California Edison (SCE) for 200 MW/800 MWh with a duration of 14 years and 10 months. The other agreement is for 150 MW/600 MWh for 15 years with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for resource adequacy only.