Idemitsu Renewables‘ Azalea Solar and Storage Project achieved commercial operation on December 31, bringing 60 MW and 38 MWAC/152 MWh of new solar plus storage capacity to Kern County, California.
The 60-MW Azalea Solar in Kern County, California. Credit: Idemitsu Renewables
Azalea will deliver clean renewable energy to the California grid under a long-term power purchase agreement with Sonoma Clean Power Authority (SCP). The facility combines PV technology with battery storage to increase grid stability and optimize energy delivery during peak demand periods.
Construction was led by SOLV Energy, a renewables EPC services provider. The battery energy storage system stores daytime generation and dispatches energy during evening and peak demand periods.
“Achieving COD at Azalea underscores our team’s ability to deliver complex renewable projects that provide both environmental and economic value,” said Cary Vandenberg, CEO, Idemitsu Renewables. “We are proud to partner with forward‑thinking organizations like U.S. Bank, Mizuho Bank, Commerzbank and Sonoma Clean Power to advance California’s clean energy goals.”
The project will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 20,000 homes across Sonoma and Mendocino Counties annually.
News item from Idemitsu Renewables