Tesla will be supplying their Megapack energy storage systems for an upcoming solar farm in California’s Mojave Desert.
The Megapacks will be part of the Eland Solar and Storage Center, a 2,652 acre solar farm and energy storage project planned for 6000 Phillips Road in Kern County, about 70 miles (112km) north of Los Angeles.
The project will feature two large scale solar facilities that will capture 400 megawatts (MW) of solar energy and include a 300MW/1200MWh energy storage facility.
Recent permits posted to Kern County’s website indicate the first phase of the project to build a 200MW ground mounted solar system is about to begin construction.
We know Tesla will be involved because an additional permit for a “energy storage yard” lists Daniel Valdez, a Senior Project Manager – Commercial Energy Development for Tesla as the applicant.
The Eland Solar and Storage Center was approved in 2019, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti saying it will provide enough renewable energy to power 283,330 homes across the city.
It will also prevent up to 727,360 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to a conventional fossil fuel power plant. That is the equivalent of taking 148,700 vehicles off the road for an entire year.
The facility will help Los Angeles reach their targets of 55% renewable energy by 2025, 80% renewable energy by 2036, and 100% renewable energy by 2045.
The first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned later this year, and when complete will be one of the largest solar and storage projects in the US.
