Fengate and Alpha Omega Power Launch 100MW/400MWh Battery Storage System in California Following Fire Safety Training

Fengate and Alpha Omega Power’s California BESS Operational After Fire Training
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Fengate Asset Management and Alpha Omega Power (AOP) have successfully launched their 100MW/400MWh Caballero battery energy storage system (BESS) in California, marking its entry into commercial operations. Situated in San Luis Obispo County, Caballero was acquired from Origis Energy and represents the first joint investment by Fengate and AOP since forming their partnership in 2023.

Fengate is overseeing this investment on behalf of the Fengate Infrastructure Fund IV and its affiliates, which include an investment from the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada. The project received financial backing from MUFG Bank and US Bancorp Impact Finance, which provides capital for the renewable energy sector through tax equity and project finance debt.

Strategically located near the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Mesa Substation, which is part of PG&E’s power system for California’s central coast, Caballero has undergone extensive fire training. Recently, firefighters from multiple agencies completed two weeks of training at the facility, as reported by local news outlet KEYT. The San Luis Obispo County Fire Department emphasized that these exercises were designed to familiarize first responders with the site’s layout, fire safety measures, and appropriate response protocols.

As part of the project’s fire safety plan, Origis Energy submitted details to California authorities on how they would implement fire and hazard safety protocols. This included collaboration with the local fire department to educate them on the BESS and effective fire suppression techniques. Earlier this year, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) established new operational standards for BESS facilities statewide, which require owners to develop emergency response and action plans, as mandated by state Senate Bill 38.

Fengate and AOP stated that Caballero underwent “rigorous testing and training” in collaboration with Cal Fire and local fire departments during both the construction and testing phases. The companies assert that the project complies with all local, state, and federal safety regulations, including the California Fire Codes and the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 855 standards for energy storage.

In a related development, Arevon Energy has commenced operations at its 200MW/400MWh Peregrine BESS in San Diego, marking the company’s fifth utility-scale energy storage facility in California. Located in the Barrio Logan community, the Peregrine project is valued at $300 million. Arevon recently completed a $258 million financing for the project and secured land financing with sustainable infrastructure investor HASI.

Employing Tesla’s Megapack 2 XL lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the Peregrine facility created over 90 full-time jobs during its peak construction phase and is expected to generate long-term property tax benefits exceeding $28 million throughout its operational life. Arevon currently operates over 3.2GW of renewable energy and has more than 800MW under construction in California, with recent projects including Eland 1 solar-plus-storage, Vikings, and Condor energy storage facilities.

For industry professionals, upcoming events such as the Battery Asset Management Summit 2025 and the Energy Storage Summit 2026 will provide networking opportunities and discussions on the latest developments in energy storage technologies.