On February 14, 2023, ESS Inc., a commercial and utility-scale long-duration energy storage system manufacturer, announced that it would provide two Energy Warehouse (EW) systems for Turlock Irrigation District (TID) located in Central California. The EWs will be connected with the very first installation of solar panels over irrigation canals in the US as part of TID's Project Nexus.
Project Nexus, scheduled to be completed in 2024, aims to produce clean energy while preserving water resources. According to recent research at the University of California, Merced, up to 13 GW of solar capacity could be installed over California's canals, requiring approximately 3 GW of energy storage and significantly contributing to the state's clean energy and water conservation goals. The solar panels will be used to shade canals, reducing evaporative losses while producing clean energy.
TID will utilize ESS technology to demonstrate the critical role of long-duration energy storage in providing consistent, dispatchable clean energy 24/7. In addition, ESS technology was chosen for its inherent safety and non-toxicity, making it ideal for placement near water infrastructure. The state of California funded the project, and the Department of Water Resources manages it.
Hugh McDermott, Senior VP of Business Development and Sales at ESS, shared, "Long-duration energy storage is the key that will enable Project Nexus to not only conserve water and generate renewable energy, but provide on-demand, clean power 24/7." He added, "This project addresses multiple climate challenges at once and is the kind of innovative approach that will build a climate-resilient future. We look forward to delivering a solution that can be replicated across California and other drought-prone areas."
(Source – Business Wire)
About ESS
Oregon-based ESS Inc. is a market leader in long-duration (4+ hours) power storage solutions that are ideal for C&I, utility, microgrid, and off-grid applications. In 2011, ESS was founded by a team of experts in advanced material science, fuel cells, electrochemistry, and renewable energy. The Energy Warehouse (EW), its iron flow battery, can deliver up to 8 hours of continuous power with a 20+ year operational life and no capacity deterioration. In addition, the EW is a stable, long-lasting solution with the minimum levelized cost of storage (LCOS) per kWh, thanks to its earth-abundant iron, salt, and water electrolyte.