Giant Solar + Storage Project Turned on in California – CleanTechnica

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Solar power and battery storage projects continue to grow strong around the world, in the US, and in California. A big project just commissioned in California adds to that story.

The new project is from renewable energy developer, owner, and operator Arevon Energy. It is the Eland 1 Solar-plus-Storage Project in Mojave, Kern County, California. The solar portion provides 384 MW of power capacity, while the energy storage component provides 150 MW/600 MWh of power and energy storage capacity.

Also, this is just the first portion of the overall project. The second phase is expected to be in operation in the first quarter of next year. “Collectively, Eland 1 and 2 are one of the nation’s largest solar-plus-storage installations with total capital costs of more than $2 billion. When both phases are completed, the projects’ combined capacity will total 758 MWdc of solar with 300 MW/1,200 MWh of energy storage,” Arevon writes.

Before we go on about project details, I want to provide a little more context or historical background on what we’re seeing. 10 years ago, solar power plants were seldom competing with fossil fuel sources on cost alone. Then, gradually, solar power became the cheapest option for new electricity generation capacity. Now we’re in an era where solar power projects are routinely being paired with large battery storage projects and are competing on cost. This really puts a nail in the coffin of fossil fuels, as the batteries provide more responsiveness, consistency, and resilience than a natural gas or coal power plant.

Avelon adds that the Eland 1 Solar-plus-Storage Project provides a lot of economic benefit to the region. “Eland 1 Solar-plus-Storage has provided and will continue to bring substantial benefits to the local community. During construction, Eland 1 employed 325 full-time equivalent personnel to build the site, which also positively impacted local businesses who benefitted from increased spending at area establishments. In addition, Eland 1 will disburse more than $18 million to local governments over the project’s lifespan, providing revenue for schools, first responders, and other local needs.”

Avelon currently has 3,000 MW of renewable energy capacity installed and operating in California, while it has another 700 MW of capacity under construction there. Here are more of its 2024 highlights from around the state: “The company recently issued other announcements celebrating achievements at several of its California projects, including the start of operations at its Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project and its Condor Energy Storage Project as well as offtake agreements for its Cormorant Energy Storage Project and its Avocet Energy Storage Project. Arevon closed financing on its Eland 2 Solar-plus-Storage Project, its Condor Energy Storage Project, as well as its Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project. Vikings Solar-plus-Storage was also the recipient of IJGlobal’s Renewables Deal of the Year – Energy Storage Award.”

I imagine we’ll have more solar and storage project news from Avelon coming soon. We are also sure to see California breaking more and more solar power, renewable energy, and energy storage records in 2025, and also for the month of December — compared to previous Decembers and other winter months.