• America’s Oil Country Increasingly Runs on Renewables

    America’s Oil Country Increasingly Runs on Renewables

    Texas, the biggest oil-producing state, has turned to solar power and battery storage to see it through extreme weather. But with demand rising, much more power will be needed.

    By Reporting from Houston / Sept. 18, 2024, 11:16 a.m. ET

    During the scorching summer of 2023, the Texas energy grid wobbled as surging demand for electricity threatened to exceed supply. Several times, officials called on residents to conserve energy to avoid a grid failure.

    This year it turned out much better — thanks in large part to more renewable energy.

    The electrical grid in Texas has breezed through a summer in which, despite milder temperatures, the state again reached record levels of energy demand. It did so largely thanks to the substantial expansion of new solar farms.

    READ MORE AT THE NEW YORK TIMES

  • CPS Energy

    CPS ENERGY SECURES 350 MW OF FUTURE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FOR GENERATION PORTFOLIO

    This addition will bring the utility’s total battery energy storage to 400 MW under contract

    August 28, 2024 (SAN ANTONIO) – CPS Energy, the largest municipally owned electric and natural gas utility in the United States, has entered into two storage capacity agreements (SCAs) with Eolian L.P. (Eolian) for a total of 350 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage, adding to a 50 MW SCA signed with Eolian in 2023, as the utility continues the execution of its Vision 2027 generation plan.
    The battery energy storage projects, called “Ferdinand” and “Padua 2”, have a storage capacity of 200 MW and 150 MW, respectively.  Both projects are located in South Bexar County, Texas and will be newly constructed and expected to be online in the first half of 2026.  Having storage resources strategically located in CPS Energy’s service territory contributes to overall grid resiliency and benefits customers.

    Not including the 10 MW operational in the current portfolio, the signing of these SCAs brings CPS Energy’s total battery storage capacity under contract to 400 MW combined.

    READ MORE

  • 'Football fields' of batteries have helped Texas's grid when electricity demand is highest

    'Football fields' of batteries have helped Texas's grid when electricity demand is highest

    Texas's battery storage capacity has increased about 2,500% since the 2021 winter storm. The booming industry has helped prevent Texas grid emergencies.

    Author: Matt Houston (WFAA)

    Published: 4:48 PM CDT August 20, 2024

    FORT WORTH, Texas — Curious cattle lowed at the herd of people examining rows of shipping containers about thirty yards away on an overcast May morning. A heavy-duty fence surrounds the inconspicuous gray boxes. Air conditioners cooling their precious cargo emit a gentle hum. The property borders ranchland and an asphalt maker, all about three miles south of Hicks Airfield in Fort Worth. Electricity transmission lines cast a long shadow over the industrial site. "A lot of people saw, like us, the opportunity to fill a need," Stephanie Smith said, walking the gravel path between the boxes. As she turned into the array, an engineer unlocked one container to reveal its components: dozens of metal canisters resembling old computer hard drives, with neatly organized wires protruding from their ends. A "high voltage" sign warns onlookers away from the machines. "What's happening in Texas is really exciting," Smith said. "I love what batteries can do for the grid."

    Smith is chief operating officer at Eolian, which operates the Chisholm Grid battery farm. Eolian buys power off nearby transmission infrastructure to charge its array when electricity is plentiful and its wholesale price is low. It will sell that stored electricity back to the grid when demand drives up prices. The process is similar to stock trading. "You're trying to take advantage of the times when there's extra power, and then you're putting it in the market when the market needs it," Smith said.

    READ MORE AND WATCH THE INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE SMITH, COO 

Eolian in the News

Send all media inquiries to: media@eolianenergy.com

IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

Enel Green Power North America Acquires 3.2 GW Solar Development Portfolio To Accelerate Growth In The U.S.

BOSTON, July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Enel Green Power North America has acquired a 3.2 GW1 portfolio of solar and solar-plus-storage projects from Dakota Renewable Energy, a joint venture between Dakota Power Partners and Eolian. The 24 development-stage projects, including 450 MW of storage capacity, are located in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and Western United States and are planned for commercial operation beginning in 2023.

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PRESS RELEASE Stephanie Seiferth PRESS RELEASE Stephanie Seiferth

Eolian Announces Closing Of $925 Million Renewable Energy Financing

NEW YORK, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eolian, L.P. ("Eolian"), a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners ("GIP"), together with Banco Santander, Natixis, MUFG and Mizuho, today announced the closing of a $925 million renewable energy financing. This novel structured transaction will further advance multiple strategies already underway as the Eolian team rapidly accelerates the deployment of cost-effective decarbonizing technologies across the US.

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking Executes $100 Million Letter of Credit Facility for Eolian

Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, acting as Sole Lead Arranger and Letter of Credit Issuer, has announced the closing of a USD $100 million Letter of Credit Facility on November 11, 2021, to support Eolian, L.P. Eolian was formed in December 2020 through a consolidation of energy assets that had been assembled starting in 2005 by the founding management team and today includes an expansive nationwide development portfolio as well as revenue interests in more than 20,000 MW of operating energy storage, solar and wind projects across the United States. Eolian is owned by its employees and funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a global, independent infrastructure investor. Eolian expands on GIP's global renewables investment strategy, which has a proven track record of value creation. GIP's current portfolio includes approximately $9 billion of equity investments and commitments in the sector, equity ownership interests in over 14 GW of operating renewable and battery storage assets, and 99 GW under construction or in development.

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) Announces Signing of 350MWac of Clean Power Projects with Entergy Louisiana

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a leading renewable energy producer in the U.S., today announced the signing of three renewable energy off-take agreements with Entergy Louisiana (ELL). The solar facilities will be built under power purchase agreements (PPAs) or build transfer agreements (BTAs) with ELL to support its growing renewable energy portfolio in the region and help power local customers' electricity needs:

The Vacherie Solar Energy Center (Vacherie) will be a 150 MWac facility in St. James Parish, Louisiana;

The SJ Louisiana Solar Project (SJ Solar) will be a 150 MWac facility in St. James Parish, adjacent to Vacherie;

The Sunlight Road Solar Project (Sunlight Road) will be a 50 MWac solar facility in Washington Parish.

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

Innergex Announces the Tax Equity Funding of Amazon Solar Farm Ohio - Hillcrest in Ohio, USA

LONGUEUIL, QC, Nov. 17, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. (TSX: INE) ("Innergex" or the "Corporation") announces the tax equity funding of the 200 MW Amazon Solar Farm Ohio – Hillcrest ("Hillcrest"), located in Brown County, Ohio, concluded today. Hillcrest is currently the largest solar facility in operation in Ohio, and since the commencement of commercial operation on May 11, 2021, 100% of its generated electric output and environmental attributes has been sold under a long-term corporate power purchase agreement to an investment grade rated US corporation.

"This is Innergex's second largest solar farm commissioned to date, which adds 200 MW to our solar portfolio," said Michel Letellier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Innergex. "While the commissioning of Hillcrest contributes to Innergex's energy diversification efforts, Ohio represents an exciting new market for us, one that provides the opportunity for us to build clean utility-scale solar that will benefit Ohioans for decades. "

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

Intermountain Healthcare Going Solar with Major Renewable Energy Project in Emery County

Intermountain Healthcare is taking a major step in sustainability by joining a utility-scale solar project near Huntington, Utah, that will supply 20 percent of the health system’s total electricity needs.

The new power purchase agreement from the Castle Solar Project, owned and being developed by D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), will supply Intermountain facilities with clean renewable energy for the next 20 years.

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IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth IN THE NEWS Stephanie Seiferth

Total adds 2.2 GW to its U.S. solar portfolio and covers all its power consumption in the country with green electricity

Paris, February 5, 2021 – Total strengthens its presence in the U.S. market by acquiring a development pipeline of 2.2 GW of solar projects, and 600 MW of battery storage assets, all located in Texas. The projects are bought from SunChase Power, a renewable energy company focused on developing utility-scale energy projects, and MAP RE/ES, a private energy investment firm.

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