Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has announced that its Chaparral Springs Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Kern County, California, is now fully operational. The 88-megawatt (MW) / 352 megawatt-hour (MWh) BESS is designed to help stabilize the grid by storing solar energy during low-demand periods and delivering it during peak demand or when solar production is low. This project is part of a larger initiative that also includes a 174 MW solar facility, both of which are developed, owned, and operated by LRE.
With additional projects coming online soon, LRE is expanding its clean energy presence in California to meet the state’s growing energy needs. These efforts now total six operational clean energy facilities in California, providing 470 MW of capacity. The Chaparral Springs BESS is expected to enhance grid flexibility and reliability, with energy sold to Peninsula Clean Energy and Valley Clean Energy under long-term agreements. The six facilities in California now generate enough clean energy to power about 184,445 homes annually and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 198,410 metric tons each year.
Willem van der Ven, Chief Operating Officer at LRE, stated, “We are proud to partner with the Peninsula Clean Energy and the Valley Clean Energy in bringing Chaparral Springs BESS online. 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.”
Mitch Sears, Valley Clean Energy Chief Executive Officer, mentioned, “Chaparral Springs BESS helps Valley Clean Energy deliver on its promise to provide clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to the communities we serve. As the energy demand grows for homes and businesses, projects like this are critical for adding carbon-free capacity and improving grid reliability.”
“We are excited to have Chaparral Springs come online as one of our first hybrid solar+storage projects. 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,” commented Peninsula Clean Energy Chief Executive Officer Shawn Marshall.
LRE is also committed to conservation, contributing \$150,000 to research and preservation of the Swainson’s Hawk in the Antelope Valley, in partnership with the National Audubon Society and Kern Audubon Society. In addition to environmental benefits, the Chaparral Springs project has provided significant economic support to Kern County, creating 100 local jobs at the peak of construction, contributing to local tax revenue, and supporting community initiatives. It also plays a key role in improving energy affordability and grid reliability for the region’s residents and businesses.
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