Fullmark Energy announced the commercial operations date (COD) of its 20-MW/40-MWh Ortega energy storage project in Lake Elsinore, California. The milestone marks the third project to achieve operations within Fullmark Energy’s Redwood Projects portfolio, a strategic collection of energy storage facilities across Southern California.
The Ortega project team successfully navigated multiple complex challenges, including developing an intricate interconnection design that satisfied landowner requirements and implementing a sensitive wetland conservation approach that met California Department of Fish & Wildlife standards. Beyond meeting regulatory demands, the project delivered additional community value through water line upgrades for neighboring businesses and transformed a previously neglected site with thoughtful landscaping.
“The successful completion of Ortega represents more than just another project coming online — it demonstrates our team’s ability to solve the complex challenges that are inherent in energy storage development,” said Chris McKissack, CEO of Fullmark Energy. “Each project in our Redwood portfolio has taught us valuable lessons that make us better developers and operators. Ortega specifically showcased how thoughtful development can address environmental concerns while delivering meaningful benefits to the local community.”
The Ortega project joins two other operational facilities in Fullmark Energy’s Redwood Projects portfolio. The 20-MW/80-MWh Johanna ESS project in Santa Ana achieved commercial operations in 2021, marking one of the early utility-scale battery storage deployments in California. More recently, the 20-MW/40-MWh Desert-Carris project in Palm Springs reached COD earlier this year. The portfolio’s fourth project, the 65-MW/130-MWh San Jacinto facility in Banning, is nearing completion.
Together, the Redwood Projects represent 125 MW of energy storage capacity strategically distributed across Southern California, reducing single points of failure while strengthening revenue profiles through diversified offtake agreements. This portfolio approach enabled Fullmark Energy to secure consolidated financing, optimizing capital efficiency and creating greater overall value for investors and stakeholders.
The Ortega project will participate in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market, providing critical grid services including energy arbitrage, frequency regulation and resource adequacy. As California continues to integrate higher levels of renewable energy, storage projects like Ortega play an essential role in maintaining grid reliability and accelerating the state’s clean energy transition.
News item from Fullmark Energy