Desert Solar Energy Storage

Is the desert sunlight battery energy storage system fully operational?

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — In another step towards achieving a clean energy future and meeting the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2035, the Bureau of Land Management is announcing that the 230-megawatt Desert Sunlight Battery Energy Storage System is now fully operational.

What is a battery energy storage project?

This battery energy storage project will help relieve the demand on the electrical grid by storing renewable energy generated from the Desert Sunlight Solar Farm and allow for consistent energy delivery during peak hours when the system may not be generating energy.

Is the desert a hotbed for solar?

This corner of the desert is a hotbed not only for solar but also for wind energy. Rows of wind turbines, connected by both straight and sinuous access roads, are visible in the stretch of desert northwest of the solar-plus-storage project (above).

Can solar power a desert?

Or, try this one: Cover around 4 percent of all deserts with solar panels, and you generate enough electricity to power the world. In other words, if we’re looking for energy—and of course, we are—those sandy sunny spots are a good place to start. But statistics are one thing, building a few thousand gigawatts of solar power is quite another.

What is Edwards Sanborn solar & energy storage?

The Edwards Sanborn Solar and Energy Storage project incorporates the highest capacity solar farm in the United States with the largest battery storage system in the world. The facility came online in February 2023 and became fully operational in January 2024.

Where is the BLM battery storage project located?

The project is on 94 acres of BLM-managed public lands near Desert Center in Riverside County. “Battery storage systems like this one play an important role in meeting energy demands and increasing energy security,” said Karen Mouritsen, BLM California State Director.