Energy Vault, a sustainable grid-scale energy storage solutions provider, has commenced construction on a utility-scale green hydrogen + battery long-duration energy storage system (BH-ESS) with 293 MWh of dispatchable carbon-free energy in Calistoga, California. This innovative project dubbed the Calistoga Resiliency Center, marks a significant milestone in the transition towards sustainable energy practices and grid reliability.
The BH-ESS, developed for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), is set to become the first-of-its-kind and the largest utility-scale green hydrogen energy storage project in the United States. Designed to support grid forming and blackout response, the system will provide up to 48 hours of power to downtown Calistoga and the surrounding area during potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), ensuring uninterrupted energy supply even in the face of extreme weather events or grid disruptions.
Energy Vault's partnership with PG&E underscores the importance of collaboration in driving innovation and addressing climate change challenges. The project will not only enhance grid resiliency but also contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, aligning with PG&E's goal of achieving a net-zero energy system by 2040.
As Marco Terruzzin, Chief Commercial Officer and Product Officer at Energy Vault, emphasizes, "The timely start of construction is an important milestone in our partnership with PG&E to deliver this first-of-its-kind microgrid solution. We greatly look forward to not only its delivery but most importantly to the sustainability benefits it will bring to the Calistoga community."
Under the 10.5-year agreement, Energy Vault will provide “Distributed Generation-Enabled Microgrid Services” — a type of energy service that involves using grid-forming generation and storage resources, to provide energy, fault current contribution and to regulate voltage and frequency within the utility’s established parameters to island the Calistoga microgrid during PSPS outages. The solution is designed to operate during PSPS events, serving all the load within a safe-to-energize area in Calistoga, including critical facilities such as fire stations, and shared services in the downtown and surrounding area.