SAN DIEGO –As California’s energy grid continues to be tested by extreme weather and tight energy supplies, the state will gain reliability from a new battery storage facility in San Diego County. The 300-megawatt (MW) project named Nighthawk is being developed by Tenaska in collaboration with Arevon and will use Tesla Megapack. Pending permitting approvals, the project in Poway is expected to break ground in 2023.
“Arevon is proud to bring Nighthawk Storage to the Poway community, providing a solution to the region’s energy and reliability challenges,” said Justin Johnson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Arevon. “California currently relies on carbon-emitting fossil-fueled power resources to meet daily and peak energy needs. Battery storage is quiet, safe, reliable and cost-effective, and it will reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels.”
Arevon recently signed a long-term contract under which the Nighthawk storage facility will provide energy and resource adequacy services to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The project was selected in a competitive request for offers PG&E launched to comply with a June 2021 California Public Utilities Commission order directing load-serving entities like PG&E to procure additional energy resources. The Nighthawk project will connect to the grid at the Sycamore Canyon Substation, which receives renewable energy generated in the desert and distributes it to the San Diego area.
Battery storage increases the reliability and resilience of the statewide electrical grid for all Californians. During times of peak energy generation, such as when renewable power from solar or wind is in abundance, batteries can be charged to capture excess generation without disrupting the local power supply. Batteries can then discharge this stored generation into the grid during times of peak energy demand.
“The Poway community will reap the benefits of not only a more reliable grid but also the economic benefits of such an infrastructure project,” said Tim Hemig, senior vice president in Tenaska’s Strategic Development & Acquisitions Group. “In particular, storage projects provide additional tax revenue and construction jobs. Our team looks forward to working with the community to maximize these benefits.”
The Nighthawk project is located within an existing industrial park and will spur economic activity in the area. Construction is expected to begin in 2023 and span one year. At the peak of construction, approximately 100 workers will be on-site.
Nighthawk is the second storage project that Arevon has announced in the San Diego area. The Peregrine project, planned for Barrio Logan, is anticipated to start construction in 2022.
