A California microgrid project that will eventually hold one of the largest flow batteries in North America is currently under construction. The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians in Alpine, California, will receive long-term energy storage through this project, which is supported by a $31 million grant from the California Energy Commission. The grant is the largest awarded to a tribal community by the CEC. The project is being developed by Indian Energy.
A total of 30,000 solar panels with a 15 MW generating capacity and a 60 MWh energy storage capacity will be used in the project. A 50 MWh zinc hybrid cathode battery from Eos Energy and a 10 MWh vanadium redox flow battery from Invinity Energy Systems make up the hybrid storage system. The microgrid will provide the Viejas Casino and Resort with 24/7, 100 per cent clean power. One of the 12 remaining Kumeyaay Indian bands, the Viejas Band, is located in the Viejas Valley, east of the town of Alpine in San Diego County, on a 1,600-acre reservation.
In October 2022, the AES Corporation dedicated its Luna Battery Storage (100 MW, 400 MWh) and Lancaster Area Battery Storage (127 MW, 508 MWh) facilities in Lancaster, California. In August and September of 2022, respectively, the battery storage facilities were completed and effectively implemented.
