The government of California has approved a US$42 million grant to Pennsylvania-based IPP International Electric Power (IEP) for a long-duration energy storage project at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, in San Diego County.

Vistra Energy has decided to pursue approval to construct a 600MW/2,400MWh BESS at the site of a retired power plant in the City of Morro Bay via the California Energy Commission (CEC).

Installed battery storage capacity in California has grown from just 500MW in 2018 to more than 13,300MW at the latest count.

Canada’s Capstone Infrastructure and Denmark’s Eurowind Energy are proposing to construct a 400MW/3200MWh standalone BESS in Alameda County, California.

Legislation that requires battery storage facilities to put in place safety and communication protocols has been signed into law.

California governor Gavin Newsom has outlined how the state will reach 100% decarbonisation by 2045, in a policy update which put energy storage front-and-centre in enabling 24/7 clean power.

Mobile battery energy storage system (BESS) firm Moxion has announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in California with 7GWh of production capacity, in a launch ceremony attended by the state governor.

Canadian Solar and Axium Infrastructure have begun operation of the Crimson Energy Storage large-scale battery system in California.

New legislation in California could open pathways for easier siting of energy storage projects by making changes to zoning laws.