Renewable energy developer-operator Arevon Energy has put its 300MW/1,200MWh Nighthawk Energy Storage Project in Poway, California, US into operation.
Announced on 12 August, Nighthawk is the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) in Arevon’s portfolio. It uses Tesla Megapack systems, which utilise lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology, and was celebrated with an on-site ribbon cutting ceremony featuring project partners, local officials, business leaders, and community members.
Arevon developed, constructed, owns, and operates the project, which is under a long-term agreement with utiliy Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
Arevon claimed that over its lifetime, Nighthawk is expected to generate over US$30 million in property tax revenue which will help fund local schools, public safety, infrastructure improvements, and other community services.
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The company also claimed that during peak construction, Nighthawk employed over 130 workers and generated economic activity for local businesses and the surrounding community.
Nighthawk was part of a series of projects stemming from California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) directives requiring the state’s load-serving entities, including utilities, to procure additional energy resources to strengthen the grid.
Arevon began construction on the project last summer, and told Energy-Storage.news that it acquired the project in 2020.
“[Independent power producer] Tenaska was the greenfield developer of the Nighthawk project. In 2020, Arevon acquired from Tenaska the Falcon portfolio, which included Nighthawk and eight other standalone BESS projects in California, and partnered with them on developing these projects. In September 2023, after staffing up our internal development team, Arevon took over development of Nighthawk and the rest of the Falcon projects”.
Arevon also highlighted its community engagement activities while developing the project, stating that it partnered with organisations throughout Poway and the greater San Diego community to support youth programmes, first responders, special needs adult services, climate education, and local non-profit organisations.
In March, Arevon closed a US$920 million financing package for Nighthawk, including a US$482 million debt facility coordinated by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) as the lead arranger, with contributions from ING Capital LLC, NORD/LB, Santander, and Zions Bancorporation.
The financing also included a US$169 million preferred equity investment, arranged with Goldman Sachs Alternatives, to streamline the monetisation of tax credits, and a US$268 million tax credit transfer agreement with a corporate buyer.
Also in March, Arevon began building its 250MW/1,000MWh Cormorant BESS project in Daly City, California. It is expected to come online in 2027 and has a long-term offtake agreement with utility MCE Community Choice Energy.
Battery Asset Management Summit USA 2026 will be held 15-16 September in Garden Grove, California, hosted by Energy-Storage.news publisher Solar Media (part of the Informa Group). The agenda emphasises addressing the roles of AI, cybersecurity, and second-life applications, broken down into two tracks: Technical Asset Management and Commercial Asset Management. This year, the conference is also co-located with Solar & Storage Finance Summit USA. Visit the official site for more details.
