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Vistra (NYSE: VST) announced that, subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), it will expand the size of the battery energy storage systems at its Moss Landing Power Plant site in Moss Landing, California. The company has entered into a 10-year resource adequacy agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for a new 100-megawatt/400-megawatt hour battery to complement the 300-MW/1,200-MWh battery already under construction. On Monday, May 18, PG&E filed its application with the CPUC to approve the contract, with a decision expected within 120 days.
Curt Morgan, Vistra’s president and CEO proudly stated that, their Moss Landing site has provided a unique opportunity for extensive battery development with its existing infrastructure and the physical space needed for even more potential growth. Utilizing their existing power plant sites allows the company to cost-competitively develop renewable and battery storage assets as they rotate their power generation portfolio toward carbon-free technologies. Vistra is appreciative of the opportunity to, once again, work with PG&E and the State of California to help integrate clean energy from renewable generation sources and ensure reliability of the electric system.
The announcement brings Vistra’s total to 436.25 MW/1,745 MWh of battery energy storage under contract in California:
- Moss Landing – Phase I (300 MW/1,200 MWh)
- Moss Landing – Phase II (100 MW/400 MWh)
- Oakland (36.25 MW/ 145 MWh)
Vistra is a market leader in utility-scale battery development: in addition to its California projects, the company’s 10-MW/42-MWh Upton 2 Battery Storage Facility came online in December 2018 and is the largest solar-plus-storage system in Texas. When the Moss Landing battery comes online, it will be the largest battery of its kind in the world.
As a company that provides an essential product like electricity, they feel it’s important to balance reliability with reducing the environmental footprint. The company is proud to be a part of this transition to newer technologies and to develop a world-class battery project at a site that has been providing Californians with electricity since 1950, stated Morgan.
Pending the receipt of CPUC approval, Vistra anticipates construction on the second phase of the Moss Landing battery energy storage project will commence in July 2020 and will begin commercial operations prior to Aug. 1, 2021. Phase I remains on schedule to begin operations later this year in December 2020.
