Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has announced that its 88-MW/352 MWh Chaparral Springs Battery Energy Storage System is now fully operational in Kern County, California. Designed to strengthen grid reliability and deliver flexible, dispatchable power, the BESS is part of a broader, multi-phase initiative that also includes a 174-MW solar facility — both developed, owned and operated by LRE. With additional projects slated to come online in the coming months, LRE is expanding its California portfolio to help meet the state’s growing demand for reliable, clean energy.
Chaparral Springs BESS is a four-hour energy storage system designed to store solar energy during low-demand periods or when solar production exceeds grid capacity. This stored energy can be dispatched during peak demand or when solar is unavailable, enhancing overall grid stability and flexibility. The energy generated will serve Peninsula Clean Energy and Valley Clean Energy under two 15-year PPAs.
“We are proud to partner with the Peninsula Clean Energy and the Valley Clean Energy in bringing Chaparral Springs BESS online,” said Willem van der Ven, chief operating officer at LRE. “This project underscores our continued commitment to helping meet California’s growing demand for clean, reliable and affordable energy. BESS technologies play a vital role in enabling the broader deployment of utility-scale renewables by delivering clean power when it’s needed most. Our investments across the country reflect the growing need for a diverse, safe energy infrastructure that reinforces grid reliability and meets evolving energy demands.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, LRE signed an agreement with the National Audubon Society and Kern Audubon Society to contribute $150,000 toward research and conservation efforts for the Swainson’s Hawk in the Antelope Valley.
“We are excited to have Chaparral Springs come online as one of our first hybrid solar + storage projects,” said Peninsula Clean Energy CEOShawn Marshall. “Our customers will benefit from the solar power it generates, along with the added capacity and reliability that comes with the battery component of the project.”
News item from Leeward Renewable Energy
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