Clearway Energy Group has announced the addition of 210 MW of battery energy storage capacity to its Honeycomb Energy Center portfolio in southern Utah, supported by long-term agreements with PacifiCorp. The expansion, involving an investment of approximately $400 million, aims to strengthen grid reliability, improve energy flexibility and support growing electricity demand across the region.
The additional capacity will support the second phase of the Honeycomb Energy Center development, comprising three new battery energy storage facilities. With this expansion, Clearway’s energy storage portfolio in Utah will increase to seven systems, providing a combined storage capacity of 2,120 MWh. The company commissioned the first four Honeycomb energy storage facilities earlier this year.
Each of the new battery storage installations will be located adjacent to an existing Clearway solar power facility operating under a power supply agreement with PacifiCorp. The integration of battery storage with solar generation is expected to improve renewable energy utilisation, support grid stability and provide greater flexibility in managing electricity supply and demand.
To finance the approximately $400 million development, Clearway has secured support from a consortium of financial institutions, including KeyBank, U.S. Bank, NordLB and CoBank. Clearway Energy, Inc. has also entered into an agreement to invest in the project following the commencement of commercial operations.
Valerie Wooley, Senior Vice President of Origination at Clearway, highlighted the importance of expanding energy storage infrastructure to support Utah’s growing economy. She stated that the additional facilities would contribute to grid resilience and help manage electricity costs as regional power demand continues to increase.
The expansion is also expected to generate economic benefits for local communities in Beaver and Iron counties. Clearway has partnered with Rosendin for construction activities, which are expected to create at least 150 jobs.
According to the company, the three new Honeycomb Energy Center projects are projected to generate approximately $37 million in additional tax revenue over their operational lifetimes. This will increase the total expected tax contributions from the Honeycomb portfolio to more than $95 million, supporting public services and infrastructure development in the surrounding communities.
Clearway will also contribute an additional $60,000 annually to local schools and community organisations, bringing the total annual community contributions from the seven Honeycomb facilities to approximately $100,000.
Matt Sterzer, Beaver County Economic Development Manager, acknowledged Clearway Energy’s growing contribution to the region’s energy sector, highlighting the company’s role in attracting investment, creating employment opportunities and generating additional revenue for local communities.
The latest development builds on Clearway’s longstanding partnership with PacifiCorp, which has supported the development of approximately 1.4 GW of power projects since 2008. This includes more than 1 GW of capacity in Utah, representing approximately $1.5 billion in investments and establishing the state as one of Clearway’s largest operational markets.
The Honeycomb Energy Center expansion reflects the increasing importance of utility-scale battery energy storage systems in supporting renewable energy integration and grid modernisation. By combining solar generation with large-scale battery storage, Clearway aims to enhance power system flexibility, improve electricity supply reliability and support Utah’s evolving energy requirements.
The additional 210 MW of battery storage capacity is expected to further strengthen Clearway’s renewable energy infrastructure in the state while contributing to regional economic development and the transition towards a more resilient electricity grid.
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