FRAMINGHAM, MA — Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a Framingham, MA based renewable energy company has entered into a contract with Southern California Edison (SCE) to engineer, procure, construct and maintain three grid scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) at existing substation parcels throughout SCE’s service territory in California.

The substation energy storage systems will be built to address the emergency reliability risks identified in a California government emergency proclamation aimed at utilizing clean energy resources to address electric power shortages due to extended drought, wildfire, and heatwaves.

The systems are slated to be in operation by August of 2022 to provide California residents with electricity in time for next summer’s reliability challenges.

The systems will be located at three distinct distribution-level substation parcels in SCE’s service area to provide for electricity demands in the San Joaquin Valley, Rancho Cucamonga and nearby communities and the Long Beach area.

The systems equate to 537.5 MegaWatts with a four-hour duration, for a total of 2,150 MegaWatt Hours.

“SCE sees a growing role for battery storage as we transition to delivering 100% clean renewable energy to customers,” said Kevin Payne, President and CEO of SCE. “The battery storage systems we have contracted for with Ameresco will make the grid more resilient to the effects of extreme weather and will help us continue our progress toward the clean energy future, which is essential to combating climate change.”

The three substation systems are a novel approach for incorporating advanced energy storage at the distribution level to solve overall system capacity and reliability needs. They will be operated in a manner which maximizes reliability of the grid by charging during periods of excess generation and discharging during periods of need. The project will utilize a turnkey Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Maintenance (EPCM) contracting mechanism.

“Innovative cleantech projects of this magnitude have the ability to provide transformative solutions to regions in need of reliable and resilient energy,” said George Sakellaris, CEO, Ameresco. “At Ameresco, we are so pleased to be a part of a project that takes such a meaningful step in providing cleantech solutions to combat the disruptive effects of extreme weather events across the nation.”

“In recent years, California’s extensive wildfires have highlighted the necessity and importance of improved energy infrastructure. It has become clear that the time for action is now,” said Britta MacIntosh, Senior Vice President, Ameresco Western Region. “This project is proof that when we work together, we can solve for real and reliable solutions to address the needs of the State of California.”

Once completed, this project will directly contribute to the State of California’s clean energy and carbon neutrality goals and help Edison International, SCE’s parent company, meet its 2045 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions commitment.

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Source: Ameresco Inc., press release.