EDF Renewables PPA enables storage expansion on 100-MW California solar project

EDF Renewables North America signed a storage contract with CleanPowerSF as an expansion to the previously announced 20-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA). The 100-MW Maverick 6 Solar Project will now be coupled with a 200-MWh battery storage system.

The project is expected to come online by the end of 2021 and deliver enough clean electricity annually to power 49,000 average California homes.

The project is located in Riverside County, California on federal lands within a Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) and Development Focus Area, managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM completed the federal permitting process, issuing the project a Record of Decision in October 2018.

“EDF Renewables is pleased to partner again with CleanPowerSF to expand upon our solar PPA to include battery storage at Maverick 6,” said Dai Owen, VP of origination and power marketing at EDF Renewables. “Battery storage is increasingly becoming essential to enable further deployment of renewables as well as to provide grid stability. This 200-MWh contract increases EDF Renewables’ battery storage portfolio to 1.5 GWh to be constructed by 2023 in the U.S.”

By coupling the solar facility with an energy storage solution, electricity produced during peak solar hours can be dispatched later in the day, thereby creating a balance between electricity generation and demand. Energy storage can further smooth electricity prices, manage evening energy ramps, mitigate curtailment and provide grid stability.

CleanPowerSF is a not-for-profit program operated by San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The program launched in 2016 with a mission to provide San Francisco residents and businesses with the choice of having their electricity supplied from clean, renewable sources at competitive rates. CleanPowerSF now serves about 380,000 customer accounts in San Francisco. With a 96% participation rate, the program is popular among businesses and residents.

“At a time when the state is experiencing rolling blackouts and other power uncertainties, ensuring grid reliability for our customers is paramount for the agency,” said Harlan L. Kelly Jr., SFPUC general manager. “Through the approval of this new storage contract, we are taking an important step to ensure we continue providing clean, safe and affordable energy to our customers no matter the time of day.”

EDF Renewables has 16 GW of renewable projects developed throughout North America, providing an integrated bundle of energy solutions from grid-scale wind, solar, solar + storage projects, electric vehicle charging and energy storage management.

News item from EDF Renewables

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/09/edf-renewables-ppa-enables-storage-expansion-on-california-solar-project/