Ørsted, Mission Clean Energy For Battery Storage Projects In Midwest United States

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August 14, 2024

ESG Review Staff

Ørsted’s 300 MW/1200 MWh storage project at the Eleven Mile Solar Center in Arizona (Image courtesy of Ørsted).

Ørsted, a clean energy company, announced a strategic partnership with Mission Clean Energy (Mission), a utility-scale renewable energy and storage developer, to advance four standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) across the Midwest. The partnership with Mission complements Ørsted’s existing development efforts while broadening and diversifying the portfolio of technologies it can offer to utilities and other customers.

“We look forward to working with Mission Clean Energy under this unique partnership to accelerate the expansion of storage projects across the Midwest and broaden our portfolio of renewable energy technologies and services for customers,” said James Giamarino, Chief Commercial Officer at Ørsted. “Continuing to invest in and build out storage solutions is critical for ensuring a resilient and reliable grid, and this partnership with Mission advances this important goal.”

Ørsted will utilize its capital to secure and maintain interconnection queue positions for the four storage projects owned by Mission, while Mission will continue to lead development of the projects. Mission and Ørsted submitted interconnection applications for the projects, totaling 1GW, in the Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO) Central, and North. Ørsted will have the option to acquire an ownership stake in the projects as they mature.

Ørsted completed its 40MW storage project at Permian Solar Center in West Texas in 2021 (Image courtesy of Ørsted).

“The partnership with Ørsted marks a significant milestone for Mission Clean Energy,” said Max Bakker, CEO of Mission Clean Energy. “Ørsted is an ideal partner to complement our development capabilities with their balance sheet strength and sponsorship support. Our combined expertise and resources will accelerate these projects and deliver impactful clean energy solutions in the MISO region.”

According to Ørsted, the MISO region is experiencing a shift in its supply mix, driven by an increase in non-emitting generation resources. The four projects are sited to meet capacity requirements and manage increasing grid volatility, with a strong emphasis on the locational benefits that they will provide.

This agreement creates access to assets which add to Ørsted’s development pipeline, bolstering its strategic focus on increasing storage along with wind and solar and providing integrated solutions for customers. In addition to developing in the Midwest, Ørsted continues to seek opportunities to expand storage capacity across the US.

This initiative is Ørsted’s first standalone battery storage partnership both in the US and globally, building on Ørsted’s existing portfolio of co-located solar and storage projects. This includes the 40MW storage project at Permian Solar Center in West Texas and the 300 MW/1200 MWh storage project at Eleven Mile Solar Center in Arizona. The storage project at Eleven Mile Solar Center is one of the largest built in a single phase in the United States. With a portfolio of nearly 6 GW of renewable energy projects in operation or under construction in the US, Ørsted looks to expand its presence in the Midwest while supporting Mission Clean Energy.