Redflow 20-MWh flow battery system approved for California project

Redflow Limited flow batteries have been funded and approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for a large-scale solar and storage project that will provide power for the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.

The 20-MWh system will be one of the largest zinc-based battery projects in the world and will represent Redflow’s largest battery sales and deployment worldwide to date.

With this new 20-MWh project, Redflow joins a small number of commercially proven non-lithium storage providers funded by CEC as it seeks to build a robust portfolio of long-term energy storage projects. The projects are a key step to help address the estimated 45-55 GW of long-term energy storage required in California by 2045 to support grid reliability and the state’s clean energy transition goals.

The project will be funded by CEC’s $140 million long-term energy storage grant program, which focuses on scaling commercially proven non-lithium energy storage technologies. This follows a 2-MWh system in California that Redflow installed for Anaergia in 2022, which has been operating successfully for more than a year.

“This 20MWh project is one of several large-scale opportunities in our pipeline and represents the next phase of our growth strategy, validating our focus on large-scale systems in the US and Australia,” said Redflow’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. Directed by Tim Harris. “The long-term energy storage market is accelerating. The CEC approval firmly establishes our presence in California leading the development and support of non-lithium technologies to achieve its net zero goals. This project is an excellent example of US-Australia cooperation in renewable energy and supports the recent goals of the Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transition Agreement, which lists clean energy as the third pillar of the alliance.”

“For this project, Redflow’s battery system was designed to charge from the sun and discharge during the day, reducing demand on the grid and increasing Paskenta Rancheria’s energy security,” Harris added. “We are proud to work with our partners in California to provide our proven zinc-bromine flow battery technology and meet California’s demand for longer-lasting, scalable, zero-fire risk energy storage solutions.”

CEC-funded long-term energy storage programs have often been used to benefit underserved communities while helping the state address grid stability and resiliency during extreme weather.

This solar and storage microgrid will enable the Paskenta Tribe to power Paskenta Rancheria operations using a sustainable, flexible renewable energy solution. The project is part of the tribe’s effort to achieve greater energy sovereignty through control over its own energy resources, reduced fossil fuel consumption and responsible land stewardship. Faraday Microgrids, a California developer and contractor that has deployed a number of CEC-funded microgrid grant projects, is the grantee and project manager.

Redflow will supply 2,000 ZBM3 batteries in its 200 kWh modular power units to be delivered in 2023 and 2024. Redflow’s zinc-bromine flow technology is capable of providing up to 12 hours of flexible energy capacity for both commercial and utility energy storage. . The project will further build on Redflow’s portfolio of 250 active installations and more than 3 GWh of delivered power.

“The Faraday team is excited to work with Redflow on this important project. The flexibility, operational performance and safety of Redflow’s zinc-bromine flow batteries will support the sustainability, reliability and energy self-sufficiency goals of both the State of California and the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians,” said David Bliss, CEO. Faraday microgrids. “Redflow’s team strength, innovative approach to streaming technology, and strong track record of successful deployments are a welcome addition to our microgrid portfolio.”

The overall design and budget allocated to Redflow has been formally approved by the California Energy Commission. Faraday Microgrids has signed a definitive supply agreement with Redflow covering the supply of batteries and technical support for the project. Faraday Microgrids expects that project agreements will be executed and notification will begin to Redflow in July 2023.

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