Clearway Launches First Battery Storage Retrofit in California

Clearway Energy Group announced today that its 147-megawatt (MW) Rosamond Central Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Kern County has officially reached commercial operations. Developed and operated by Clearway Energy Group, the Rosamond Central BESS is owned by its public affiliate, Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CWEN, CWEN.A). This state-of-the-art project is equipped with 4-hour lithium-ion batteries and is strategically situated next to Clearway’s 192 MW Rosamond Central solar farm, which was completed in 2020. The project highlights Clearway’s continued commitment to expanding its nearly 850 MW battery energy storage portfolio, which encompasses both operational and under-construction projects.

“Battery storage projects like Rosamond Central BESS are crucial for fulfilling California’s Resource Adequacy program, ensuring that homes and businesses across the state have reliable power during peak demand hours,” said Valerie Wooley, Senior Vice President of Origination at Clearway. “We are proud to collaborate with Southern California Edison (SCE) on our first battery retrofit project, enhancing our existing renewable energy and natural gas assets in the region. This partnership is instrumental in providing the grid reliability and resilience needed to meet the growing energy demands within SCE’s service territory.”

Rosamond Central BESS is secured under a long-term Resource Adequacy (RA) agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE). Clearway has previously partnered with SCE on over 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects, including the significant Alta Wind complex and the ongoing Luna Valley solar project.

Rosamond Central BESS signifies a $400 million investment in Kern County and is among the first battery energy storage projects financed under the Inflation Reduction Act’s energy community bonus incentive. The construction of this project saw contributions from over 50 union craftworkers, who completed more than 115,000 hours of injury-free labor. Clearway also engaged with the local community during the project’s development by donating to several initiatives, including the Rosamond Kern County Library’s S.T.E.M. programs, the Rosamond Little League, and Rosamond High School’s S.T.E.A.M. program.