Renewable energy storage project launches in Grand Terrace

Arevon Energy Inc. administrators and Grand Terrace city officials cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the Condor Energy Storage Project in Grand Terrace on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, ɫ��̳/SCNG)

PUBLISHED: August 5, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.

Grand Terrace cut the ribbon on a project this week that stores and provides renewable energy for the community.

City officials on Wednesday, July 31, hosted the launch of the Condor Energy Storage Project, a battery storage facility that holds up to 400 megawatts’ worth of energy when power from solar or wind is in abundance. Then, it discharges the stored energy to the local electrical grid during times of peak energy demand.

Grand Terrace Mayor Bill Hussey put it this way: “Basically, don’t waste the watts and save them when needed. So, waste not, watts not!”

Tesla’s Megapack energy storage systems, with a capacity of 200 MW/800 MWh, are featured in the Condor Energy Storage Project in Grand Terrace on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Arevon Energy Inc., a renewable energy developer, celebrated the launch of the project. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, ɫ��̳/SCNG)

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The project by renewable energy developer Arevon is also intended to help San Bernardino County meet some of its climate goals.

“The government has identified the need for clean renewable energy, and Arevon has come up with a solution for that need,” Hussey said.

At the ribbon cutting, Arevon CEO Kevin Smith said the project provides the community with “viable economic revenue, cleaner air for the community and reliable energy access.”

During peak energy demand periods, the project can power up to 150,000 homes annually for up to four hours, according to a July 31 news release from the company.

Additionally, the Condor facility will provide an estimated $25 million in property tax payments over its lifespan, supporting the county as well as the local school district, according to the news release.

The project utilized a combination of local services and labor unions and commercial partners to build its facility.

It uses Megapack 2 XL, Tesla’s utility-scale battery energy storage system, to store the energy, which is the most advanced technology available on the market today, according to the news release. The project has also entered a contract with Tesla to provide operations and maintenance services.

Arevon also partnered with the Grand Terrace community in other ways.

The Condor project committed to a contribution of $200,000 to provide shade for students at Grand Terrace High School along with a donation to the school’s Site Council.

Arevon owns and operates more than 4,000 megawatts’ worth of utility-scale solar and storage projects across the nation. It’s also currently constructing more than 2,000 megawatts of new capacity.

In May, a similar project from Calpine Energy broke ground in the city of Menifee in Riverside County.

, expected to be finished in 2025, will host about 1,200 batteries spread over 43 acres to store enough electricity to power 680,000 homes for up to four hours.