Strata has started construction on the 100 megawatt / 400 megawatt hour Ventura Energy Storage grid-scale battery, near Oxnard, California.
With the capacity to support approximately 80,000 Southern California Edison (SCE) customers, the project will provide desperately needed grid reliability services.
“Ventura Energy Storage is exactly the type of large battery system that will help avoid power outages, like those recently experienced in California. As the State continues to transition away from fossil-fuels, Strata is advancing a portfolio of utility-scale storage projects to respond to the growing need for new clean capacity resources.”
Markus Wilhelm, Strata Solar CEO.
The project, developed by Strata, was approved by the county of Ventura in April 2020. Subsequently, Tesla was awarded an engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract to supply the Megapack battery system. The project also co-invested in the modernization of the local water utility to support fire prevention and additional business development.
“This project is the first of several that Capital Dynamics is building in California to help the stability of the California grid. We are pleased to be at the forefront of solving some of the most challenging issues for grid stability and pleased to be partnering here with a leading developer like Strata.”
John Breckenridge, senior managing director, head of clean energy infrastructure at Capital Dynamics.
Ventura Energy Storage was chosen by SCE for a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to provide local resources to the Ventura and Santa Barbara regions. The project would include $3 million in new sales taxes and more than $9 million in new property taxes for Ventura County.
A project labor agreement has been signed with the Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council to ensure local job development. Operations are scheduled to begin in Q1, 2021.
