EDF Renewables & Power Sustainable’s Desert Quartzite Solar Project Now Operational

EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Inc. (PSEI) have announced that the Desert Quartzite Solar+Storage Project became fully operational in December 2024. The project includes a 375 MWdc/300 MWac solar farm paired with a 150 MWac battery storage system that can supply power for up to four hours. Under a 20-year agreement, the electricity generated is delivered to Clean Power Alliance (CPA), supporting California’s transition to clean energy.

Desert Quartzite, situated on federally managed land in Riverside County, California, is designed to store solar energy during peak production hours using a battery system. This stored power is then released later in the day or at night to help meet electricity demand, ensuring a steady balance between energy supply and consumption. The project operates under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and plays a key role in optimizing renewable energy use.

Devon Muto, Vice President, West Development at EDF Renewables, said “EDF Renewables recognizes the growing importance of battery energy storage systems as a complementary market to our core generation business. These systems provide reliable, affordable, and clean energy even in the absence of sunlight. During the peak construction phase of the project, we were able to create 450 jobs, and we are particularly proud of our safety practices which resulted in zero recordable incidents during the two-year construction phase of the project.”

Pierre-Olivier Perras, Managing Partner at PSEI, stated “We are thrilled to be expanding our presence in the California utility-scale market. This project is a testament to the strong market fundamentals supporting renewables and battery storage in North America.”

EDF Renewables’ energy storage system helps keep electricity prices stable and ensures a reliable power supply while being environmentally friendly. This project highlights the company’s dedication to making the most of renewable energy and speeding up the shift to cleaner power, supporting efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Once fully operational, the Desert Quartzite project will produce enough electricity to power over 163,000 homes in California. It will also prevent more than 669,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions each year—the same as taking over 145,000 cars off the road.

This makes a big impact on California’s fight against climate change. As one of North America’s leading renewable energy developers, EDF Renewables has been helping businesses and communities lower their carbon footprint for over 35 years. With 18 gigawatts of wind, solar, and storage projects completed, the company delivers everything from large-scale renewable power to electric vehicle charging solutions.