Oregon-based energy storage systems provider ESS Tech has announced the delivery of three ESS Energy Warehouse systems to California-based solar energy company Coldwell Solar.
According to ESS, the systems will be installed in a solar-plus-storage microgrid at three wineries in California’s Mendocino County, namely Roederer Estate, Scharffenberger Cellars and Domaine Anderson. The microgrid is expected to be operational in late 2023 and provide energy resilience and sustainability, enabling 24/7winery operations.
“The wineries needed an energy storage solution that could withstand the elements and operate safely in a wildfire-prone region,” said Sean Hood, COO of Coldwell Solar. “With its inherent safety and low carbon footprint, ESS technology was the only option that meets the energy resilience and sustainability needs of our customer. We look forward to partnering with ESS on future projects to accelerate clean energy deployments in the state.”
The ESS solution is expected to safeguard the wineries against the impacts of public safety power shutoff events and other grid interruptions, as well as avoid significant demand charges and realize energy savings by reducing grid electricity use during peak periods.
ESS says its iron flow technology provides cost-effective long-duration energy storage and is suitable for applications requiring up to 12 hours of flexible energy capacity. It adds that the technology has a 25-year design life without capacity fade and is safe and non-toxic, making it ideal for wildfire-prone regions.
“Our safe and sustainable long-duration energy storage systems are ideally suited to a wide variety of commercial and industrial applications,” said Hugh McDermott, SVP of Business Development for ESS. “We’re pleased to support these wineries’ commitment to sustainability while providing the energy security needed to continue delivering economic benefits to the Mendocino region.”
Mendocino County is one of California’s most productive wine regions. The county is home to numerous wineries, and about 25 percent of the viticultural acreage there is grown organically, according to reports.
Solar energy projects paired with battery storage make up a majority of new renewable energy interconnection requests in recent years, particularly in California.
