Power generation firm Vistra Energy is increasing the size of its battery energy storage project located at the site of its 40-year-old Oakland Power Plant by more than 80%.
The Texas, US, firm announced on 15 April the system would now have a capacity of 36.25MW/145MWh instead of the previously announced 20MW/80MWh.
Vistra aims to enter commercial operations with the project by January 2022 after receiving necessary approvals from East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) and from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).
The battery system will be a partial replacement for the aging 165MW jet fuel-fired plant, which is on a Reliability Must-Run contract with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).
Vistra plans to eventually retire the existing units at Oakland Power Plant and develop additional energy storage projects on the site in the future.
Vistra’s 10MW/42MWh Upton 2 Battery Storage Facility came online in December 2018 and is the largest in Texas.
Its 300MW/1.2GWh Moss Landing battery project is under construction in California and set to be completed later this year.