The US’s Largest Solar + Storage Project Reaches Significant Milestone
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AES has successfully completed the first phase of the Bellefield project, which is set to become the largest solar and storage facility in the United States. Located in Kern County, California, the Bellefield 1 project boasts a capacity of 1,000 megawatts (MW), consisting of 500 MW of solar energy and 500 MW of four-hour battery storage, all secured under a 15-year contract with Amazon. Once the entire 2,000 MW Bellefield project is finalized, it will hold the title of the largest solar-plus-storage installation in the country.
Andrés Gluski, CEO of AES, remarked, “Completing the first 1,000 MW of Bellefield demonstrates how rapidly solar and storage can be deployed to meet the growing energy demand of data centers.” AES has established agreements with major global hyperscalers, including tech giants such as Amazon and Meta, for over 10 gigawatts of clean power, with Bellefield being a crucial component of that initiative.
To enhance the construction process and ensure safety, AES deployed its AI-powered robotic assistant, Maximo. This robotic system aided crews in installing solar panels more efficiently and accurately. Once the full 2 GW project is operational, Bellefield is expected to generate sufficient electricity to power approximately 467,000 homes each year. Additionally, it is projected to prevent over 1 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, contributing to improved air quality in the region.
The construction of Bellefield 1 has created more than 700 union jobs, and AES anticipates that Bellefield 2, expected to be completed in 2026, will generate around 1,000 union jobs at its peak. AES plans to begin recognizing revenue from Bellefield 1 later this year, adhering to its timeline.
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Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/uss-largest-solar-and-storage-project-reaches-major-milestone-in-kern-county/
