LS Power to switch on ‘world’s largest’ battery in California amidst power crisis

August 20, 2020
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
At the time of writing the Gateway Energy Storage project (pictured) has a capacity of 230MW, but this will reach 250MW by the end of August 2020. Image: LS Power.

Infrastructure company LS Power is to switch on what is thought to be the world’s largest single-site battery project at 250MW before the end of the month.

The Gateway Energy Storage project, located in San Diego, California, currently has a capacity of 230MW, but is on track to stand at 250MW by the end of the month.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The announcement comes amidst a raft of activity in California’s battery storage space. Asset management group Capital Dynamics and independent power producer Tenaska confirmed themselves to be collaborating on a 2GW battery pipeline in the state just yesterday, while hundreds of megawatts of energy storage projects have also been contracted for in recent months.

Greater emphasis has too been placed on energy storage in California this week as the state is currently in the throes of a significant heatwave which has placed great strain on the state’s power supply.

California’s Independent System Operator has issued numerous warnings of rolling blackouts this week as a result, while industry representatives have repeatedly refuted suggestions renewables and energy storage facilities are to blame for the strain on the grid, instead stating that greater proliferation of the two stood to solve such issues.

For more information on this story, visit our sister title Energy-Storage.news.

Additional reporting by Andy Colthorpe.

16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2028 and beyond.
13 October 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 13-14 October 2026 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023, 2024 and 2025 were a sell out success and 2026 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Premium
March 10, 2026
Amazon, Google, OpenAI and other tech firms have signed the 'ratepayer protection pledge' to build, bring or buy the energy required to build and operate data centres.
March 10, 2026
The US installed 43.2GW of new solar PV capacity in 2025, a 14% decrease from the previous year, according to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie.
March 10, 2026
The Tunisian government is seeking proposals for a 300MW/150MW solar-plus-storage project in the south of the country.
Premium
March 10, 2026
PV Tech Premium spoke with Philip Vyhanek, CEO of GameChange Solar, about the company's purchase of Terrasmart and wider solar industry dynamics.
March 9, 2026
Clean energy advocates have applauded new measures to expand solar and storage capacity in New Jersey and tackle rising energy bills, including a 3GW boost to the state’s community energy programme.
March 9, 2026
Hanwha Qcells has resumed normal production at its solar module assembly plants in the US state of Georgia after some of its products were detained by US customs.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain