Canadian Solar Inc. has announced that its energy storage division, e-STORAGE, has secured a contract to supply a 75 MW/381 MWh DC battery energy storage system (BESS) for Apex Clean Energy’s Coldwater Storage project in Branch County, Michigan. The battery storage facility will be co-located with Apex’s operational Coldwater Solar project, strengthening grid flexibility and supporting Michigan’s clean energy transition.
Under the agreement, e-STORAGE will provide a fully integrated utility-scale battery energy storage solution featuring its SolBank 3.0 battery blocks, Power Conversion Systems (PCS), and the company’s proprietary EQ-S Energy Management System (EMS). The integrated platform is designed to optimize system performance, enhance operational efficiency, and simplify project management through a single technology solution.
Equipment deliveries are scheduled to commence in early 2027, while commercial operations are expected to begin by mid-2027. The project will utilize Canadian Solar’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based SolBank battery technology, manufactured within the company’s own production facilities, providing complete supply chain visibility and compliance for the customer.
The project aligns with Michigan’s evolving energy policy, which requires utilities across the state to deploy 2,500 MW of energy storage capacity by 2030. At the same time, several of Michigan’s largest coal-fired power plants are expected to retire by 2032, increasing the need for battery storage systems capable of replacing dispatchable generation capacity within the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) grid.
Once operational, the Coldwater Storage project will store electricity generated during periods of lower demand and discharge power during peak consumption, improving grid reliability while supporting the state’s increasing reliance on renewable energy resources such as solar and wind.
Ken Young, Chief Executive Officer of Apex Clean Energy, said the project will help address rapidly growing electricity demand while strengthening grid resilience through large-scale energy storage. He added that e-STORAGE’s proven technology and execution capabilities made the company a strong partner for the project.
Jeff Roy, President of e-STORAGE, noted that the project demonstrates how Michigan’s long-term energy storage targets are translating into tangible infrastructure investments. He added that by supplying battery systems, power conversion technology, and advanced energy management software as an integrated solution, e-STORAGE will serve as Apex’s single technology partner throughout the project’s lifecycle.
The Coldwater Storage project further strengthens Canadian Solar’s growing presence in North America’s utility-scale energy storage market as demand accelerates for battery systems that enhance renewable energy integration, improve grid reliability, and support the retirement of conventional fossil fuel-based power generation.
