[SMM Analysis] EVLO Announces Successful Delivery of 12.8MW/64MWh Battery Energy Storage System for First California Project  

System integrator EVLO Energy Storage (EVLO) has completed the delivery of a 12.8MW/64MWh battery energy storage system project in California, marking the company's first project in the state.

The project was announced on December 10 and is scheduled to be commissioned in spring 2025 by an unnamed project owner. The company has signed a power purchase agreement with a Southern California Community Choice Aggregator (CCA).

As a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, EVLO has achieved success in battery energy storage system projects in Canada and Europe. In 2023, the company was selected to provide a 60MWh battery energy storage system in Ontario.

The California battery energy storage system consists of 64 EVLO 1000 units and 16 power conversion system (PCS) units. EVLO's proprietary energy management system (EMS), EVLOGIX, will manage the project.

Its 5-hour energy storage duration is noteworthy, as most battery energy storage system projects in California are 4-hour systems.

While no detailed information about the EVLO 1000 is available on the company's website, a 2021 announcement from Hydro-Québec stated that "the EVLO 1000 is a 1MWh battery energy storage system designed for large projects."

"The system is primarily targeted at generators, transmission providers, and distributors, with multiple applications including renewable energy integration, microgrids, peak shaving, backup power, and grid resilience."

At the time of publication, no detailed information about the CCA had been disclosed. However, EVLO's President and CEO Sonia St-Arnaud did note that the end customer has "very stringent requirements regarding safety and cybersecurity."

St-Arnaud's affirmation and evidence of the transaction indicate that the customer's project requirements have been met.

In November, EVLO's configurable battery energy storage system EVOFLEX regained UL9540 certification in accordance with the requirements of Dominion Energy, a utility company in Virginia.

California aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and reduce anthropogenic emissions to 85% below 1990 levels. Recently, a significant number of battery energy storage system projects have been launched.

Developer Strata Clean Energy completed the 70MW/280MWh Inland Empire Storage Project in early December, while Fengate Asset Management partnered with Alpha Omega Power in late November to secure a tax equity commitment for the 400MWh Caballero Storage Project from U.S. Bank's Impact Finance division.

EVLO's first project in the US was a 3MW/12MWh battery energy storage system commissioned in August in Troy, Vermont. The project is under a 20-year long-term service agreement with Vermont utilities, including Vermont Electric Cooperative. The Vermont battery energy storage system also consists of 16 EVLO 1000 units and 4 PCS platforms.