EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure (PSEI) have officially launched their Desert Quartzite solar-plus-storage project in Riverside County, California. The 300-megawatt (MW) facility includes a 150MW, four-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) and is designed to store solar-generated electricity for later use, helping to balance supply and demand.
Located on federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the project is part of a long-term, 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Clean Power Alliance (CPA). The facility is expected to support grid reliability by dispatching stored energy during periods of peak demand, whether during the day or overnight.
Devon Muto, Vice President of West Development at EDF Renewables, highlighted the growing role of energy storage in the company's strategy, noting, “EDF Renewables recognizes the growing importance of battery energy storage systems as a complementary market to our core generation business. These systems provide reliable, affordable, and clean energy even in the absence of sunlight.”
The construction phase of the project also created 450 jobs, with EDF Renewables emphasizing its focus on safety. “We are particularly proud of our safety practices which resulted in zero recordable incidents during the two-year construction phase,” Muto added.
Pierre-Olivier Perras, Managing Partner at PSEI, expressed confidence in the project's significance. “We are thrilled to be expanding our presence in the California utility-scale market. This project is a testament to the strong market fundamentals supporting renewables and battery storage in North America.”
The energy storage system not only stabilizes the grid but also helps mitigate fluctuations in electricity prices, contributing to a more resilient energy infrastructure.
