Phase 2 of world’s largest energy storage system completed, California

The second phase in the construction of the world’s largest battery energy storage system in Moss Landing, California, has been completed. The first phase consisted of a 300 MW/ 1,200 MWh lithium-ion battery, put together by Vistra. Operations began on the first phase in December 2020 and it has the capability of providing electricity to approximately 225,000 houses during peak electricity pricing periods. The system captures excess power from the state grid, largely during high solar-output hours, and can release the power when demand for electricity is at its highest and solar electricity is declining, usually early morning and late afternoon.

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The second phase involves adding 100 MW/400 MWh to the facility which will total the power to 400 MW/ 1,600 MWh which is enough to power over 300,000 houses during periods of high power demand. The Vistra Zero Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility repurposes and utilizes the 70-year-old property that has produced energy by various means throughout that time. Vistra takes the existing power plant site and existing transmission from renewable solar apparatus to bring in excess green energy and wind energy sources and charges utility-scale batteries, storing the excess energy until it is needed.

“This is exactly where we need to be not just as a community but as a state. With the disruptions that we’re seeing to our energy grid from wildfires to other extreme weather events, of course, caused by climate change, we need these types of low-emission grids that are resilient and yes, that is very, very green,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the second phase. Resource adequacy agreements for both phases of the project have been made with PG&E. The Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility with thousands of battery racks for the lithium-ion battery system has been supplied by LG.