Wind pioneer Eolus snaps up 500MW/250MW US solar-plus-storage project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image: Eolus.

Sweden’s first commercial wind power developer Eolus has entered the US solar-plus-storage market, announcing the acquisition of a mega-project currently in development.

Founded in 1990, the company has been listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm Stock Exchange since 2015, surpassing 1GW of onshore wind turbine assets developed in Sweden shortly after that. Eolus, via its Eolus North America subsidiary has now bought a vast project in the Western US, combining a “planned capacity” of 500MW of solar PV with 250MW of energy storage.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

While the project and the location are unnamed, Eolus said the project “has an interconnection queue to deliver power to California”. It has an estimated completion date in 2022, when it should also begin commercial operation. The current developer of the project selling the project to Eolus North America has also not been named.

Energy-Storage.news contacted Eolus’ Swedish headquarters for clarification and further details, but a spokesman was unavailable at time of publication. The company certainly has a track record of developing wind projects in its homeland which it has taken to the US, including the acquisition of two projects in Nevada, one of which has a potential for 200MW to 600MW of turbines, according to the company.

Energy-Storage.news understands that an interconnection application was made for the 250MW storage portion of the project by developer Gateway Energy Storage LLC. The request, made to the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) in mid-August, is for an order directing California investor-owned utility (IOU) San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to allow the storage system’s output to interconnect with transmission operator CAISO’s networks. The request makes it clear that the facility would be battery energy storage, although technology type was not specified.

“We are excited at the opportunity to develop a utility-scale solar project paired with battery storage that aims to fill the growing demand for low-carbon firm renewables in the U.S. It indicates our commitment to expanding into new technologies and to be responsive to emerging energy market signals,” Hans-Christian Schulze, Eolus North America country manager said.

“Energy storage is becoming increasingly important in enabling grid networks to match supply and demand fluctuations of electricity and to increase grid stability. The more variable low-cost power production such as wind and solar, the greater potential for it to be complemented with large-scale energy storage solutions.”

Additional reporting by John Parnell.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA