Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 18, EDF Renewables North America, a subsidiary of EDF Renewables, has finalized financing for the Desert Quartzite solar plus storage project in Riverside County, California. Co-owned with Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Inc. (PSEI), the project began delivering electricity in December 2024. This marks EDF Renewables’ first project leverage financing in the U.S. in over a decade.

The Desert Quartzite solar and storage project has a total capacity of 375 MWdc for solar generation, combined with a 150 MWac/4-hour BESS.

The project’s long-term debt financing was secured from KfW IPEX-Bank, MUFG Bank, Export Development Canada, Korea Development Bank, and four additional banks. Located in California, Desert Quartzite combines 375 megawatts defined conditions (MWdc) of solar generation with a 150 megawatts alternating current (MWac)/four-hour battery energy storage system (BESS), enhancing grid reliability and energy storage capacity.

In August 2024, PSEI, a division of Power Sustainable, completed the initial phase of its strategic investment in Desert Quartzite. The investment was executed in collaboration with Potentia Renewables, PSEI’s integrated developer and asset manager. The project supplies electricity to the Clean Power Alliance, serving 35 communities in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in September 2021.

EDF Renewables North America also signed a separate 20-year PPA with Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) in September 2024. This agreement involves supplying clean energy from the 300MW Milligan 1 Wind project in Nebraska, operational since 2021. These agreements reflect EDF Renewables’ commitment to expanding clean energy access across diverse regions.

The Desert Quartzite project supports California’s renewable energy goals by providing sustainable power and storage solutions. The integrated solar and battery system ensures a stable energy supply, addressing peak demand and enhancing grid resilience. EDF Renewables North America’s portfolio includes 23GW of completed projects and 16GW under service agreements, underscoring its role in advancing renewable energy infrastructure.

The collaboration with PSEI and the involvement of multiple international banks highlight strong investor confidence in the project’s potential. By leveraging solar generation and advanced storage technology, Desert Quartzite contributes to a cleaner, more reliable energy future for California communities. The project’s successful financing and operational start mark a significant step in EDF Renewables’ efforts to deliver scalable renewable energy solutions across North America.