AES to install largest battery-based energy storage project in US for SDG&E

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

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. Credit: AES
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.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

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.

1 July 2025
London, UK
UK Solar Summit 2025 will look at the role solar currently plays in the energy mix, how this will change over the coming years and how this aligns with net-zero and other government targets. We will break down all these challenges and help build up solutions through discursive panels, motivational keynotes and case studies, with newly added interactive sessions to get you moving and meeting your peers, making the connections you need to boost your business.
1 July 2025
Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge, London, UK

Read Next

May 21, 2025
Installed battery storage capacity in California, US has grown from 771MW in 2019 to more than 15,500MW as of 31 January, 2025.
Premium
May 20, 2025
Matthew Biss examines legislative moves regarding the safe siting and deployment of battery storage in California, the biggest market by state in the US.
May 19, 2025
Engie North America has partnered with CBRE Investment Management (CBRE IM) on a 2.4GW battery energy storage system (BESS) portfolio in Texas and California, US.
Sponsored
May 19, 2025
Goldwind discusses how its unmatched system-level expertise from the renewables space makes it ideally placed to solve the key industry challenges it sees emerging in energy storage.
May 15, 2025
Masdar and a sovereign wealth fund for Kazakhstan will collaborate on a ‘baseload’ project and battery energy storage systems (BESS).

Most Popular

Email Newsletter