Ameresco will construct a battery energy storage system of up to 50 megawatts to provide California public power utility Silicon Valley Power additional local area capacity for electrical system reliability and flexibility.
The BESS, named Kifer Energy Storage LLC, will be installed adjacent to the existing Kifer Receiving Station within SVP’s service territory.
The Ameresco-owned asset, which is scheduled to begin construction in mid-2024, will mark the beginning of a 25-year lease and Energy Storage Agreement with the City of Santa Clara, Calif.
Ameresco will develop, own, and operate the BESS, while SVP will supply the charging energy.
With a maximum energy capacity of up to 200 megawatt-hours, the BESS “will efficiently acquire surplus renewable electricity and provide a clean and reliable resource to integrate renewables, decrease reliance on gas-fired generation, and mitigate greenhouse gas and criteria air pollutant emissions,” a Nov. 20 news release noted.
Additionally, the batteries at the facility will participate in the California ISO markets, assist in balancing generation and consumption, reducing congestion and regulating voltage and frequency.
Ameresco and SVP aim for the BESS to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2025.
