AES California Battery Project and Modernized Gas Plant

Overview

• Project Name: Alamitos Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
• Location: Alamitos Energy Center, Long Beach, California
• Operator: AES Corporation
• Capacity: 100MW / 400MWh
• Goal: Support California's goal for 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045

Key Features

• One of the world's largest lithium-ion battery projects
• Provides electric system reliability and stability
• Fluence (JV of AES Corporation and Siemens) supplied and integrated the storage system
• Uses Fluence’s Advancion 5 battery storage equipment
• Not directly paired with renewable generation but reduces need for natural gas peaker plants

Modernized Natural Gas Plant

• Type: Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant
• Capacity: 640MW
• Benefits:
  • More efficient and flexible than older gas-fired units
  • Uses 70% less fresh water and does not use ocean water for cooling

Energy Storage and Market Role

• The BESS serves as peaking capacity and provides ancillary services
• Helps integrate more renewable energy into the local grid
• Supports grid at times of peak demand
• Capable of immediate power delivery to homes

Regulatory and Market Context

• Part of California's initiative to procure 3.3GW of system reliability resources
• A 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Southern California Edison (SCE)
• AES won a competitive bid for the PPA in 2015

Industry Impact and Development

• AES and the industry have scaled significantly since the initial agreement
• Fluence has pre-booked significant orders, indicating market growth
• Expansion includes a new project in Chile with 560MWh capacity

Images and Visuals

• Various images showcase the project’s completion, facility interior, and battery systems

Conclusion

• The combined battery and modernized natural gas facility at Alamitos marks a significant step in achieving cleaner, more reliable energy in California, contributing to broader carbon-free electricity goals by 2045.