Who owns the valley center storage facility?

San Diego-based renewable energy company Terra-Gen owns and operates the 139-megawatt, 560 megawatt-hour Valley Center Storage Facility that produces enough electricity to power up to 140,000 homes for four hours on a single charge.

Why is energy storage so important in California?

Energy storage has taken on a higher profile in recent years as more renewable sources of power have come onto California’s electric grid. Solar production may be abundant during the day but practically vanishes after sunset or when smoke and clouds obscure the skies. And when the wind doesn’t blow, production from wind farms peters out.

How can energy storage help fill California's energy gap?

Energy storage — particularly from batteries — is seen as a key way to fill the gaps. Storage systems take solar power generated during the day and discharge the electricity later, especially from 4 to 9 p.m. when California’s grid is under the most stress.

What are energy storage projects?

Energy storage projects support grid reliability and the integration of more clean energy into the electric grid. Enables the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to dispatch energy from our batteries at any time to help balance supply and demand on the statewide grid.

What happened to Terra-Gen's valley center battery storage project?

But there’s a problem with fires Terra-Gen’s Valley Center battery storage project opened in February 2022. A fire at the facility in September briefly shut down operations.

Why is energy storage important?

Energy storage is a potential substitute for, or complement to, almost every aspect of a power system, including generation, transmission, and demand flexibility. Storage should be co-optimized with clean generation, transmission systems, and strategies to reward consumers for making their electricity use more flexible.