Masdar of the UAE Completes US$950 Million Solar-Plus-Storage Project in California, USA

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 13, Masdar of the UAE announced that the Lockhart solar-plus-storage integrated project in California, USA, has completed construction. The project represents a total investment of approximately US$950 million and comprises 365 MW of photovoltaic power generation facilities and a 173.7 MW battery energy storage system, with a combined installed capacity of 538.7 MW. Its annual power supply capacity can meet the electricity demand of approximately 350,000 households and businesses. The project was built by US renewable energy developer Terra-Gen and is located in the Hinkley area of San Bernardino County.

The photovoltaic portion features more than 925,000 solar modules installed, while the energy storage portion is equipped with 248 battery units. The two types of facilities are connected to a unified power supply system: the photovoltaic system generates electricity, and the battery energy storage system stores electricity and dispatches it according to power demand, enhancing the time-shifting capability of solar power generation. The project adopts a combined photovoltaic and battery energy storage configuration, with electricity sold through corporate power purchase agreements and long-term power purchase agreements signed with California load-serving entities.

Construction took approximately 4 years, creating more than 1,000 on-site construction jobs and totaling approximately 880,000 work hours. The construction scope was divided as follows: Cupertino Electric was responsible for the design, procurement, and construction of the main balance-of-system works, EPC Services undertook the high-voltage electrical works, First Solar supplied the photovoltaic modules, and Nextpower provided the solar tracking systems. Upon completion of construction, the project is expected to contribute more than US$40 million in property tax revenue over its operational period.

Terra-Gen is jointly owned by Masdar and Igneo Infrastructure Partners and is responsible for project development, construction, and operation. The Lockhart complex consists of multiple construction phases; with the overall completion this time, the photovoltaic generation and battery energy storage form a unified commercial operating asset. The project has secured electricity sales channels through corporate power purchase arrangements and long-term power purchase agreements in California.