US-based storage provider AES Energy Storage, a subsidiary of AES Corporation, has signed contracts with utility San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) to install two energy storage arrays with a combined capacity of 37.5MW.
AES will deploy its Advancion 4 storage systems at two SDG&E substations in San Diego County, California, with 30MW in Escondido and 7.5MW in El Cajon. They will help the utility improve regional reliability and integrate more renewable energy. The Advancion arrays will be able to provide 37.5 MW of power for four continuous hours and serve as a 75 MW of flexible resource to the grid.
The systems will include batteries by Samsung SDI and power conversion systems by Parker Hannifin.
The projects will become operational by the end of January 2017 and the Escondido array will be the largest battery-based energy storage project in operation in the US, according to AES.
The utility is trying to accelerate its uptake of energy storage with support from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
Andrés Gluski, AES president and chief executive, said: “We are excited that SDG&E has selected AES’ Advancion energy storage solution to help meet peak demand and ensure the reliability of the electric grid in Southern California. AES recently made Advancion available to utilities, developers and commercial customers interested in owning our innovative and scalable solution.”
James Avery, SDG&E’s chief development officer, said: “These batteries are beneficial because they maintain a reliable flow of energy to customers when they need it most. We also are national leaders in supplying renewable resources, with more than 33% of the energy we supply to customers coming from wind and solar. These batteries will help smoothly integrate this growing supply of clean energy onto the power grid for use by our customers.”
AES Energy Storage recently made significant expansions away from established markets into relatively untapped regions across the globe.
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