Massive Battery Storage Facility Nears Completion In Menifee

MENIFEE, CA — Touted as California's largest battery storage facility — and one of the nation's biggest — the Nova Power Bank is near completion in Menifee. It promises to "add a significant resource to the California power grid and will help support grid reliability and the transition to clean energy," according to the Houston, Texas-based company behind the project, Calpine Corporation.

Situated on approximately 43 acres along Antelope Road, the Nova Power Bank revitalizes the old General Electric Inland Empire Energy Center at the site that was decommissioned in 2020. Once heralded as the future of the global power sector, the $500 million natural gas-fired plant struggled financially for 10 years before its closure.

In January, Calpine announced that it closed $1 billion in financing for the Menifee plant. The company expects to complete the project in three phases: 510 MW will come online this summer, 110 MW this fall, and the remaining 60 MW in 2025.

The Nova Power Bank will use lithium-ion, flow battery, or other battery technology to store electrical energy.

"Once completed, the Nova Power Bank will be one of the world's largest battery storage projects with 680 MW, having the capability to power approximately 680,000 homes for up to four hours," according to the company.

As of November, California has 7,302 MW of battery storage capacity, the most out of any state in the country, according to Calpine.

Battery-stored energy can be released during times of high customer demand, such as hot summer evenings or colder winter nights.

"This not only enhances the use of renewable energy, but also helps maintain grid reliability, rate stability, and avoid service disruptions throughout the region," according to Calpine.