Case Study: Southern California Edison achieves enhanced grid reliability with Ameresco's 537.5 MW / 2.15 GWh distribution battery energy storage systems

Three Battery Energy Storage Systems at distribution level substations will provide California residents with electricity in time for next summer’s reliability challenges

Southern California Edison faced urgent grid reliability risks from extreme weather (drought, wildfires and heatwaves) and needed additional clean, dispatchable capacity at distribution substations in time for the next summer. Ameresco was selected under a turnkey EPCM contract to design and build three grid‑scale battery energy storage systems (BESSs) at existing distribution‑level substations to address those emergency reliability needs.

Ameresco’s solution installs three distribution‑level BESS units totaling 537.5 MW with four‑hour duration (2,150 MWh) sited to serve the San Joaquin Valley, Rancho Cucamonga and Long Beach areas. Operated to charge on excess generation and discharge during peak need, the Ameresco EPCM project boosts near‑term grid resilience ahead of summer 2022, increases local capacity and supports California’s clean‑energy and Edison International’s 2045 net‑zero goals.

Southern California Edison

Kevin Payne

President and CEO