This big battery storage project will boost San Antonio’s grid

San Antonio’s grid is about to get substantial backup with a 120-megawatt (MW), 480-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage project.

CPS Energy, the US’s largest municipally owned electric and natural gas utility, and San Antonio-based solar and battery storage developer OCI Energy are bringing the big battery storage system to southeastern Bexar County, Texas.

OCI Energy will develop, finance, construct, own, and operate the project, named Alamo City ESS LLC, and CPS Energy will have operational control of the project to serve electrical demand in the San Antonio region.

The battery is designed to provide power at full capacity for four hours before needing a recharge, which will be crucial for meeting peak energy needs.

The Alamo City project, expected to come online by the end of 2026, is part of CPS Energy’s Vision 2027 plan to expand generation capacity, bringing the utility’s total battery storage under contract to 520 MW. CPS Energy has a (not-very-ambitious) 40% by 2040 renewables goal and is still adding natural gas generation.

OCI Energy’s president, Sabah Bayatli, said, “As a San Antonio-based company, we are thrilled to build on our decade-long collaboration with CPS Energy. Now, we’re introducing large-scale battery energy storage to San Antonio to help secure reliable and sustainable power for our community today and for generations to come.”

OCI Energy will also contribute $250,000 to the University of Texas at San Antonio to support educational initiatives tied to the contribution.

The City of San Antonio has a net zero by 2050 goal and is No 1 in the state for locally installed solar capacity.

To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*