Clearway Brings Online Its First Battery Energy Storage Retrofit in California
Battery facility contracted under long-term resource adequacy agreement with SCE, enhancing grid reliability
SAN FRANCISCO – Clearway announced today that the 147 megawatt (MW) Rosamond Central Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) in Kern County has reached commercial operations. Rosamond Central BESS was developed and will be operated by Clearway Energy Group and owned by its public affiliate, Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN, CWEN.A). Rosamond Central BESS comprises 4-hour lithium-ion batteries and is located adjacent to Clearway’s 192 MW Rosamond Central solar farm, which was completed in 2020. The project represents Clearway’s latest investment in its nearly 850 MW battery energy storage portfolio in operation and construction.
“Battery storage projects like Rosamond Central BESS play an essential role in delivering on California’s Resource Adequacy program to keep the lights on for homes and businesses across the state during peak hours,” said Valerie Wooley, SVP of Origination at Clearway. “We are proud to partner with SCE on our first battery retrofit project, which builds on our existing renewables fleet and natural gas portfolio in the region and provides the grid reliability and resiliency needed to meet growing demand in SCE’s service territory.”
Rosamond Central BESS is contracted with Southern California Edison (“SCE”) under a long-term resource adequacy (“RA”) agreement. Clearway has partnered with SCE on over 1.5 GW of renewable projects, including the Alta Wind complex and the more recent Luna Valley solar project currently under construction.
Rosamond Central BESS represents a $400 million investment in Kern County and is one of the first battery energy storage projects financed under the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy community bonus incentive. Over 50 union craftworkers contributed to construction with more than 115,000 hours of injury-free labor. Community engagement activities during construction included donations to the Rosamond Kern County Library’s S.T.E.M. programs the Rosamond Little League, and Rosamond High School’s S.T.E.A.M program.
Construction was led by Rosendin and the battery energy storage systems for the project were supplied by Wärtsilä.