California's 1.4-GWh Crimson battery goes online

Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ:CSIQ) announced on Tuesday that the huge Crimson energy storage system, partly owned by its subsidiary Recurrent Energy LLC, started operations in California.

The 350-MW/1,400-MWh complex is touted as the largest battery storage project in the world to reach operation in a single phase. It is also the second largest energy storage system currently operating, according to the Canadian renewables group.

Recurrent Energy holds a 20% stake in Crimson after the sale of 80% to independent portfolio management firm Axium Infrastructure about a year ago.

The sprawling facility is located on public lands in Riverside County in the California desert. CSI Energy Storage, a majority-owned unit of Canadian Solar, served as the turnkey system integrator for the Crimson project, providing engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. The firm will also provide the long-term operational services.

Crimson Storage will operate under two long-term contracts with utilities in California. Specifically, a 200-MW/800-MWh portion is under a contract spanning 14 years and 10 months with Southern California Edison (SCE), while 150 MW/600 MWh is tied to a 15-year contract for resource adequacy only with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). Both contracts are part of reliability procurements directed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

Recurrent Energy and Axium will operate the Crimson battery in the California wholesale power market, Canadian Solar said.

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