Lengthy-duration vitality storage developer Hydrostor has signed a 50-MW offtake settlement with California Group Energy (CC Energy) for the Willow Rock Vitality Storage Middle.
The 500-MW/4,000-MWh advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) undertaking can retailer vitality for eight hours of steady discharge to the grid, and can present dependable capability to the six neighborhood alternative aggregator members of CC Energy.
A rendering of the Willow Rock compressed-air LDES by Hydrostor.
“Hydrostor’s Willow Rock undertaking brings much-needed grid advantages to California by offering dependable long-duration vitality storage capability utilizing home content material, off-the-shelf turbomachinery and solely air and water to retailer vitality,” mentioned Alexander Morris, CC Energy Basic Supervisor. “CC Energy strives to advance California’s vitality objectives by contracting with novel, high-potential applied sciences and is worked up to accomplice with Hydrostor on this progressive vitality storage answer that improves reliability and diversifies California’s grid whereas supporting native employment and funding.”
The six CC Energy members taking part within the offtake settlement are CleanPowerSF, Peninsula Clear Vitality, Redwood Coast Vitality Authority, San Jose Clear Vitality, Silicon Valley Clear Vitality Authority and Valley Clear Vitality Authority.
“By way of this settlement with CC Energy, we’re demonstrating how A‑CAES might be deployed at significant scale to satisfy rising reliability wants whereas providing a value‑aggressive, infrastructure‑prepared answer for utilities navigating speedy load development,” added Jordan Cole, Hydrostor’s Chief Business Officer. “Willow Rock is a powerful instance of how our business technique interprets into actual initiatives delivering vital worth for purchasers and communities.”
The Willow Rock undertaking obtained its California Vitality Fee allow in December of final 12 months, its franchise settlement from the Kern County Board of Supervisors earlier the identical month, in addition to a conditional letter of help from the Kern County Board of Supervisors in April of 2025. The undertaking is anticipated to return on-line in 2030.
The Willow Rock Vitality Storage Middle is Hydrostor’s first utility-scale undertaking being in-built america, constructing on its operational project in Ontario, Canada. The corporate is creating one other late-stage undertaking in New South Wales, Australia, and has a 7-GW undertaking pipeline globally, with initiatives in america, Australia, Canada and the UK.
