Arevon Energy hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the start of operations at its Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project in Imperial County, California, near Holtville. The $529 million project includes 157 MWDC of solar coupled with 150 MW/600 MWh of battery energy storage.
Vikings, one of the first utility-scale solar peaker plants in the U.S., shifts low-cost daytime solar energy to higher-cost peak demand periods, including late afternoons and evenings. Its battery storage system can rapidly adjust capacity in seconds, an essential component for addressing critical demand challenges.
The ribbon-cutting event held this week celebrated the collaborative efforts of the project’s stakeholders to bring the project into operations and acknowledged the community support to further California’s renewable energy goals.
“Vikings’ advanced design sets the standard for safe and reliable solar-plus-storage configurations,” said Kevin Smith, CEO at Arevon. “The project incorporates solar panels, trackers and batteries that showcase the growing strength of U.S. renewable energy manufacturing. Its completion marks a significant milestone for Arevon, as we continue to meet California’s clean energy needs while advancing energy security and independence nationwide.”
The project helps uses products from key U.S. manufacturers, including: Megapack battery energy storage systems manufactured by Tesla in Lathrop, California; First Solar thin film photovoltaic solar panels and Nextracker smart solar trackers. San Diego-headquartered SOLV Energy led the engineering, procurement and construction activities.
San Diego Community Power is the project’s offtaker, and through a long-term agreement with Arevon, the energy from the Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project will contribute to serving their nearly 1 million customers. The companies have also executed a commercial agreement for Arevon’s 200-MW Avocet Energy Storage Project located in the City of Carson, California, which is expected to start construction in early 2025.
Vikings, which was named after the Holtville High School mascot, provided scholarships for deserving Holtville High School students to use for college tuition costs, which the Arevon team presented at an annual awards ceremony. The company also sponsors the annual Carrot Festival and remains committed to being an active member of the community throughout the project’s anticipated multi-decade life.
News item from Arevon
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