New 20MW energy storage facility opens in Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 4, 2021 — Hecate Grid, a developer, owner and operator of cutting-edge utility-scale energy storage solutions, is excited to announce that it marked the completion of its Johanna Energy Storage System (ESS) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the project site in Santa Ana on Sept. 30.

The 20-megawatt (MW), 80-megawatt hour (MWh) Johanna ESS is a grid-connected, stand-alone source of short-term energy storage designed to reduce grid congestion. It enables utilities and community choice aggregators such as Southern California Edison and Clean Power Alliance to save excess power from renewable energy generation for up to four hours, allowing cheap, carbon-free energy to be used at peak times after solar power production has waned with the fall of darkness.

“The Johanna ESS — and energy storage in general — is key to enabling the grid to match fluctuations in the supply and demand of electricity,” said Yohan Ko, Hecate’s Director of Asset Management. “Hecate Grid’s mission is to support widescale deployment of renewable energy using storage. The Johanna ESS represents a significant step to create a more efficient, resilient, clean power California.”

This energy storage project was conceptualized as a Southern California Edison preferred resource pilot program project. Both Southern California Edison and Clean Power Alliance have signed contracts to utilize the energy from the Johanna ESS batteries.

“We are excited to team up with Hecate Grid to bring clean energy technology to the Santa Ana community,” said Caroline Choi, Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs for Edison International and Southern California Edison. “This crucial energy storage project will enhance electric grid reliability.”

“With their deep experience in energy storage development, Hecate Grid has been a great partner helping us fill in that missing piece of the clean energy puzzle here in California: storage. Storage is pivotal to reliably serve our customers with the high levels of renewable energy they demand,” said Ted Bardacke, Executive Director of Clean Power Alliance.
The Johanna ESS is part of a critical project to evaluate the impact of integrating distributed energy resources into the California Independent System Operator (ISO) grid. The multiyear study will determine whether clean energy, when facilitated by stand-alone energy storage solutions, can offset the increasing demand for energy in central Orange County.

The key role of storage was highlighted recently by California’s grid operator in an April 28 press release:

“California’s drive for decarbonization has placed the [California] ISO on the leading edge of the energy storage revolution,” said Elliot Mainzer, President and CEO of the California ISO. “Beginning with 4-hour lithium-ion batteries and ultimately expanding into longer durations and chemistries, energy storage is going to play a critical role in maintaining reliability and providing essential grid services. We are excited to work with our industry partners to further evolve our market rules and fully unlock the value of energy storage technologies.”

Technology provider Mitsubishi Power Americas joined Chicago-based Hecate Grid in hosting representatives from Southern California Edison and the Clean Power Alliance. Mitsubishi Power Americas will service the facility under a 10-year long-term service agreement.

“Hecate is pleased to have found a reliable partner in Mitsubishi, which has remarkable experience in developing and delivering specialized, turn-key battery systems,” said Ko.

The Johanna ESS utilizes lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry (commonly referred to as LFP), which is recognized for having a significantly lower risk of overheating and fire relative to other battery chemistries.
To learn more about Hecate Grid please visit http://hecateenergy.com/about-us/

About Hecate Grid: Launched in September 2018, Hecate Grid is an emerging force in North American energy storage. It is a jointly owned platform of leading renewable energy developer Hecate Energy and international investment manager InfraRed Capital Partners Limited, which acts in its capacity as manager of a $12-plus billion InfraRed Infrastructure Fund V. Hecate Grid has over 2.5 gigawatts of energy storage projects in development.