1. Energy Storage

    GridBeyond Contracted to Provide Energy Optimization Services for 200-MW Big Rock Battery Project

    March 3, 2025
    The AI-enabled management of Gore Street Capital’s now operational energy storage battery will be utilized in storing excess solar energy during peak generation and releasing it during high demand periods.
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    Gore Street Energy Storage Fund has hired energy management technology provider GridBeyond to provide scheduling coordinator, energy trading and optimization services for the 200-MW Big Rock energy storage system located in Southern California.

    GridBeyond’s AI-based Bid Optimizer is designed to aid distributed energy resources in achieving maximum returns in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) grid market.

    The Bid Optimizer backs market price forecasts with simulations of battery storage, renewable, and thermal assets to simplify decision-making and ensuring optimal bids going beyond conventional trading strategies.

    The AI-enabled management of Gore Street Capital’s now operational energy storage battery will be utilized in storing excess solar energy during peak generation and releasing it during high demand periods. This versatility can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support grid stability, while generating revenues for the customer.

    “Gore Street is committed to achieving the very best returns for all of its assets under management,” Alex O’Cinneide, CEO of Gore Street Capital, said in a statement. “We are therefore very pleased to have selected GridBeyond to partner with as Big Rock goes into operation and we move forward with the project.”

    GridBeyond’s CAISO optimization and proprietary must-offer strategy could help fulfill the Big Rock Resource Adequacy contract acquired by a Goldman Sachs subsidiary in October 2024.

    “This deal highlights our commitment to advancing energy storage optimization solutions and shows once again the accuracy of our AI based solutions in delivering greater value for our customers ensuring grid stability, and supporting decarbonization goals,” said Sean McEvoy, GridBeyond President of North America.

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    British-based Gore Street Energy Storage Fund acquired the Big Rock battery energy storage system from developer Avantus in 2023 as it was entering the construction phase. The investor partnered with battery system integrator LS Energy Solutions on the 200-MW/400-MWh Big Rock site in Imperial County, California.

    The energization of Big Rock was completed earlier this year.

     

     

    About the Author

    Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor | Senior Editor

    For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].

    Rod Walton has spent 15 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

    He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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