Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has announced that the Chaparral Springs Battery Energy Storage System is now fully functional at 88 MW/352 MWh in Kern County, California. Developed with the intention of enhancing the reliability of the grid and providing flexible dispatchable power, the BESS is a part of a larger multi-stage plan that also includes a 174 MW solar facility, all developed, owned, and operated by LRE. With more projects expected to come online in the subsequent months, LRE is increasing its footprint in California to support the growing need for clean and dependable energy in the state.
Chaparral Springs BESS is a four-hour energy storage system, which is used to store solar during off-peak consumption times or when the solar is producing more than what the grid can handle. This stored energy can be dispatched off-peak or when there is no solar available, which increases the capability and resilience of the grid. The energy produced will be supplied to Peninsula Clean Energy and Valley Clean Energy under two 15-year PPAs.
“We are proud to partner with the Peninsula Clean Energy and the Valley Clean Energy in bringing Chaparral Springs BESS online. This project underscores our continued commitment to helping meet California’s growing demand for clean, reliable, and affordable energy. BESS technologies play a vital role in enabling the broader deployment of utility-scale renewables by delivering clean power when it’s needed most. Our investments across the country reflect the growing need for a diverse, safe energy infrastructure that reinforces grid reliability and meets evolving energy demands.”
– Willem van der Ven, chief operating officer at LRE.
LRE continued its stewardship of the environment with a pact with the National Audubon Society and the Kern Audubon Society to allocate a sum of $150,000 for research and conservation work for the Swainson’s hawk in the Antelope Valley.
“We are excited to have Chaparral Springs come online as one of our first hybrid solar + storage projects. Our customers will benefit from the solar power it generates, along with the added capacity and reliability that comes with the battery component of the project.”
– Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Shawn Marshall.
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