Fullmark Energy Begins Commercial Operations Of 65MW/130MWh San Jacinto Battery Storage Project In Banning, California, Completing Its 125MW/290MWh Redwood Portfolio – SolarQuarter

Fullmark Energy Completes Redwood Projects Portfolio, Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Fullmark Energy, an independent power producer, has announced the commencement of commercial operations for its 65MW/130MWh San Jacinto energy storage project in Banning, California. This development completes the company’s Redwood Projects portfolio, a collection of battery energy storage systems (BESS) totaling 125MW/290MWh. The portfolio is designed to enhance grid reliability and directly supports California’s transition towards renewable energy, making significant contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Portfolio Overview

The Redwood Projects

The fully operational Redwood Projects portfolio, integrated into the Southern California Edison distribution system, consists of four key assets. These facilities are critical infrastructure for a stable and sustainable energy future.

• San Jacinto Project: 65MW/130MWh (Operational 2025)
• Desert-Carris Project: 20MW/40MWh (Operational 2025)
• Ortega Project: 20MW/40MWh (Operational 2025)
• Johanna ESS Facility: 20MW/80MWh (Operational 2021)

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Redwood Projects portfolio serves as a model for aligning energy infrastructure development with global sustainability targets. The projects make direct and measurable contributions to the following SDGs:

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   The 125MW/290MWh portfolio is fundamental to ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy. By storing excess renewable energy and deploying it during peak demand, the BESS facilities stabilize the grid, reduce reliance on fossil-fuel peaker plants, and facilitate a higher penetration of intermittent clean energy sources like solar and wind.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   These projects represent the construction of resilient and innovative energy infrastructure. The deployment of advanced battery storage technology enhances the grid’s capacity and flexibility, fostering sustainable industrialization and demonstrating a scalable model for modernizing energy systems.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The San Jacinto project exemplifies community revitalization and sustainable urban development. The facility was constructed on a previously abandoned property, transforming a neglected area into a secure, modern energy asset. This revitalization improves the local environment and provides essential grid support to the City of Banning’s municipal utility, which serves approximately 13,500 customers, thereby making the community more resilient and sustainable.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

   By enabling the large-scale integration of renewable energy, the portfolio directly contributes to climate change mitigation. The projects strengthen the grid’s ability to operate with lower carbon emissions, which is a critical action required to combat climate change and its impacts.

Operational and Strategic Framework

Market Integration and Financial Viability

All four projects within the portfolio actively participate in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market. They provide essential grid services that reinforce California’s clean energy goals:

• Energy Arbitrage
• Frequency Regulation
• Resource Adequacy

The portfolio’s development was supported by a $100 million financing facility secured in January 2023, underscoring investor confidence in sustainable energy infrastructure.

Future Expansion and Commitment to Sustainability

With the Redwood portfolio fully operational, Fullmark Energy is advancing its development pipeline, which includes an additional 4GW of projects. This expansion demonstrates a long-term commitment to scaling solutions that support the SDGs.

• Chiquito Facility (California): 80MW
• Ramsey Project (Texas): 500MW
• East Valley Project (Texas): 250MW

This strategic growth into new markets like Texas will further amplify the company’s contribution to building a resilient, low-carbon energy infrastructure across the United States.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article focuses on the development of battery energy storage systems, which are critical for supporting the transition to renewable energy. The projects are explicitly designed to “enhance grid reliability and support the state’s renewable energy transition,” directly aligning with the goal of ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The construction and operation of the 125MW/290MWh Redwood Projects portfolio represent a significant investment in building “resilient infrastructure.” The article highlights how these “high-performing assets” enhance the Southern California Edison distribution system, showcasing innovation in energy infrastructure to support sustainable industrialization.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The San Jacinto project is presented as a model for community revitalization. It transformed a “previously abandoned and overgrown property” into a “modern, well-secured energy asset.” This action improves the urban environment, addresses resident concerns, and contributes to the local municipal utility serving 13,500 customers, making the city more sustainable and resilient.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • By enabling greater integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, battery storage projects like those in the Redwood portfolio are crucial for climate change mitigation. The article states the projects “accelerate the renewable energy transition,” which is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, reinforcing “California’s clean energy and grid resilience goals.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
   • Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The article directly supports this target by describing the projects’ role in facilitating California’s “renewable energy transition.” Battery storage is essential for managing the intermittency of renewables like solar and wind, thereby allowing a higher share of them in the energy mix.
   • Target 7.a: “By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.” The article mentions that Fullmark Energy secured “$100 million in financing” for these projects, demonstrating significant investment in clean energy infrastructure.
2. Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
   • Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.” The projects are explicitly designed to “strengthen grid reliability” and provide “essential grid services,” which are hallmarks of quality and resilient infrastructure.
   • Target 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure… with… greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.” The battery energy storage systems represent an upgrade to the traditional electrical grid, incorporating a clean technology to improve its performance and sustainability.
3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.3: “By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for… sustainable human settlement planning and management.” The revitalization of the abandoned San Jacinto site, turning a community concern into a valuable asset with “fencing, lighting, and landscaping improvements,” is a direct example of sustainable urban land management and development.
4. Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
   • Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The projects are aligned with “California’s clean energy and grid resilience goals,” which are part of the state’s broader strategy to combat climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 7 & 9:
   • Installed Capacity: The article provides specific quantitative data on the capacity of the energy storage projects. The total portfolio adds “125MW/290MWh of capacity.” This is a direct indicator of the scale of new clean energy infrastructure.
   • Financial Investment: The mention of “$100 million in financing” serves as an indicator of the financial commitment towards developing clean energy infrastructure (relevant to Target 7.a).
2. For SDG 11:
   • Number of Beneficiaries: The article states that the San Jacinto project contributes to the City of Banning’s municipal electric utility, which “serves approximately 13,500 customers.” This is a quantifiable indicator of the project’s direct community impact.
   • Land Revitalization: The transformation of a “previously abandoned and overgrown property” into a productive asset is a qualitative indicator of improved urban land use and sustainable community development.
3. For SDG 13:
   • Contribution to Grid Services: The article mentions the projects provide “energy arbitrage, frequency regulation, and resource adequacy.” While not a direct measure of emissions reduction, these services are crucial for enabling a higher penetration of renewables, which implies progress towards climate action goals. The 125MW/290MWh capacity is an implied indicator of the potential for displacing fossil fuel-based power generation.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: solarquarter.com