CONTOURGLOBAL CHARGES AHEAD WITH HYBRID SOLAR PV PLUS BATTERY EXPANSION IN THE U.S.

Following the recent announcement of a large-scale Solar PV + extended-duration Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Chile, ContourGlobal is further advancing its hybrid renewable portfolio with another solar and storage project acquisition in the western United States. The project is in advanced stage and will be erected over two phases boasting a combined capacity of 567 MWp of solar PV and 321 MW/1.3 GWh of BESS, totaling 888 MW of hybrid capacity once fully built.

While connected to Arizona’s WAPA grid, the project is near the California border and includes firm transmission rights to deliver power to CAISO, providing flexibility to serve customers in both in the WECC-Southwest (AZ) and CAISO (CA). The project has completed key development milestones, including environmental and interconnection, permitting, and is in the marketing phase for potential offtake agreements. With its long-duration batteries capable of providing 321 MW of storage capacity for up to 4 hours, the project will specifically be able to serve evening peaks.

With this strategically located project, that can be built in different phases and can achieve initial commercial operations as early as 2028, ContourGlobal moves closer to providing renewable energy that is available when consumers need it most. This flexibility is becoming increasingly crucial in markets experiencing an oversupply of solar energy during daylight hours and a shortage of carbon-free energy during evening periods. It is also appealing to corporate buyers looking to go beyond the standard annual renewable energy purchase and begin achieving hourly matching between their consumption and the renewable energy they procure. 

Antonio Cammisecra, CEO of ContourGlobal, commented, “The acquisition of this project represents a significant step in achieving our growth and decarbonization objectives. By expanding our portfolio of hybrid Solar PV plus long-duration BESS projects, we’re helping firm up renewable energy supply in one of the most dynamic and demand-driven markets in the U.S.”.

This acquisition marks ContourGlobal’s entry into the renewables market in the western U.S., bringing its total U.S. renewable capacity to 718 MWp and to 321 MW of BESS, when combined with the recent acquisition of a 151 MWp solar portfolio in South Carolina. Notably ContourGlobal also operates 371 MW of natural gas generation capacity connected to California’s CAISO grid, part of a broader 1.3 GW thermal portfolio spanning five U.S. states.