GE Selected for 100 MWh Energy Storage Systems in California

GE Renewable Energy has been selected for the supply of battery energy storage systems for three projects in California for a total capacity of 100 MWh

GE Renewable Energy has announced that it has been selected by Convergent Energy + Power (Convergent) for the supply of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for three projects in California for a total capacity of 100 MWh. The scope of work for the company will also include a long-term service agreement and augmentation guarantees.

Frank Genova, COO and CFO of Convergent, said that Convergent has a track-record of developing trailblazing energy storage assets that advance the energy storage sector; and that the company is proud to partner with GE Renewable Energy to provide for local area reliability and support the growth of renewable energy in California.

With a total capacity of 100 MWh, this is the largest single order for BESS for GE Renewable Energy in the US.

The energy storage systems support two primary goals. First, they provide the targeted local capacity to enhance grid reliability during peak periods. Second, as fast-acting stabilisation devices, the battery energy storage systems can charge and discharge rapidly to regulate frequency and contribute to grid stability, helping to balance and facilitate the ever-growing penetration of variable renewable energy. Assets such as these will assist with making California’s state targets of 33% renewable energy penetration by 2020 and 100% by 2050 a reality.

Prakash Chandra, Renewable Hybrids CEO, GE Renewable Energy, said that energy storage is going to be a major component in the energy transition to more renewable generation, “and our collaboration with Convergent in California is a stepping stone in demonstrating the industry’s commitment to delivering more reliable and dispatchable renewable energy.”

With this project, GE Renewable Energy will reach a total of 495MWh in operations or construction in the battery energy storage space.

Recently, we reported that GE has been selected for the supply and integration of one of the largest grid-scale storage technology hybrid deployment to be installed for the Solar River Project in South Australia. The energy storage system, called the Reservoir, will be coupled to a large 200 MW photovoltaic generation plant.