bnr-Battery-Energy-Storage-System
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30-MW/20-MWh Battery Energy Storage System

We partnered with Imperial Irrigation District (IID) to help engineer the future of energy storage and deliver one of North America’s largest battery energy storage systems.

Location

  • California, USA

Client

  • Imperial Irrigation District

Project Status

  • Completed

As one of California’s eight balancing authorities, IID is responsible for generating 1,100-MW of energy from a diverse resource portfolio, including significant renewable sources. Anticipating continued solar growth, the utility needed a robust solution to maintain grid stability and meet regulatory deadlines.

To address this need, we served as IID’s owner’s engineer, conducting extensive system studies, developing detailed specifications for a battery energy storage system (BESS) and assisting in site selection.

  

From concept to commissioning

Our team oversaw construction and coordinated efforts among more than 60 multi-disciplinary contractors, ensuring the project stayed on a fast-track schedule and met critical Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) deadlines even under extreme conditions, such as pouring 90 truckloads of cement at night in high temperatures.

The result was one of the largest battery storage facilities in North America at the time of commissioning.

   

MWs total energy generation responsibility
1,100
Modules installed in BESS
5,032
MWs additional solar generation supported
50
kV interconnect voltage
92
Tons, heat pump systems and controls
200

North America’s largest BESS installations

The BESS includes 5,032 modules housing over 100,000 lithium-ion batteries within an 8,000-square-foot facility. It delivers advanced capabilities such as solar generation smoothing, VAR support, spinning reserve, peak shaving and black start functionality, along with an additional 50-MW of solar generation.

With a dynamic range of 60-MW, the system can shift from -30-MW to +30-MW in just a few cycles. Key technical features include a 92-kV interconnection, 30 1.25-MW transformers and inverters, a 33-MVA main substation transformer and 200 tons of heat pump systems and controls.

This project not only strengthened IID’s ability to deliver reliable power but also set a benchmark for large-scale energy storage solutions in North America.

Our engineering expertise turned IID’s vision into reality, delivering one of North America’s largest battery energy storage systems on time and on spec.

Other challenges that we have overcome