GridBeyond Powers Up 200MW Big Rock Battery Energy Storage System in California
GridBeyond, a global innovator in intelligent energy management solutions, has joined forces with Gore Street Energy Storage Fund plc (LSE: GSF), a leading international investor in battery energy storage, to launch operations at one of the most significant energy storage projects in California. Over the summer, the companies successfully commissioned and began operating the Big Rock Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in El Centro, California—a large-scale energy infrastructure development with substantial implications for the region’s energy resilience and sustainability.
A Milestone Project in California’s Energy Transition
At 200 megawatts (MW) / 400 megawatt-hours (MWh), the Big Rock BESS represents not only the largest asset currently under management by both Gore Street Capital and GridBeyond but also one of the most impactful energy storage installations in the Western United States. Designed to support Southern California’s power needs during peak demand periods, Big Rock is projected to deliver clean, dispatchable electricity to approximately 200,000 homes.
“This is an enormous battery system and an important source of resiliency to the state of California,” remarked Sean McEvoy, President of North America at GridBeyond. He noted the importance of the facility within the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) market, explaining, “As CAISO’s daily Regulation Up/Down requirement often ranges between 500 MW to 1200 MW, this single asset has the potential to fulfill 15% to 40% of the state’s regulation services needs during certain hours.”
This capability makes Big Rock a cornerstone project in California’s drive to stabilize and decarbonize its grid by integrating flexible, on-demand energy storage that can respond instantly to fluctuations in supply and demand.
Sophisticated Coordination Across Time Zones and Teams
Bringing the Big Rock BESS online was a massive undertaking requiring extensive international collaboration. A dedicated team of more than 20 professionals—including data scientists, regulatory analysts, and industrial control engineers—coordinated across multiple countries and time zones to ensure seamless deployment and integration into the CAISO grid.
This interdisciplinary effort reflects the increasingly global and technologically complex nature of modern energy projects, where real-time data analytics, market intelligence, and predictive modeling are just as essential as traditional engineering.
GridBeyond’s AI Optimization at the Core
To ensure the facility maximizes its return on investment and contributes meaningfully to grid efficiency, GridBeyond was selected to provide trading and optimization services for Big Rock. Central to GridBeyond’s role is its proprietary AI-driven Bid Optimizer, a tool that leverages real-time battery performance simulations and market price forecasting to generate optimal bidding strategies in the dynamic CAISO market.
This AI-based platform continuously learns from operational data to refine its decision-making over time, enabling Big Rock to unlock value across multiple market mechanisms. From energy arbitrage (buying electricity at low prices and selling at high ones) to frequency regulation and capacity services, GridBeyond’s optimization layer ensures the asset participates intelligently and profitably.
“GridBeyond’s technology allows us to dynamically position the asset to capture value from every available opportunity,” McEvoy explained. “Whether it’s regulation services, energy arbitrage, or future market mechanisms, our optimization suite is built to evolve with the market.”
A Partnership Grounded in Results
For Gore Street Capital, Big Rock is the latest example of its ability to execute large-scale energy storage investments globally. “We are pleased to partner with a high-quality counterparty like GridBeyond on this landmark project,” said Alex O’Cinneide, CEO of Gore Street Capital. “Our approach has consistently demonstrated an ability to outperform the market. Big Rock not only strengthens California’s energy infrastructure but also exemplifies how we deliver scalable, risk-adjusted returns for our investors across international markets.”
The collaboration between the two companies leverages GridBeyond’s technical acumen and market presence in North America with Gore Street’s strategic capital and portfolio management expertise.
Backed by a Long-Term Revenue Contract
One of the key features anchoring Big Rock’s financial viability is a 12-year fixed-price Resource Adequacy (RA) contract, which is valued at over USD 165 million across its term. The contract was secured in October 2024 by a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs, underscoring the level of institutional confidence in the asset’s performance and strategic role in the California grid.
Under this RA contract, Big Rock is expected to earn approximately 40% of its total project revenue, providing a stable foundation for long-term cash flows. Importantly, the asset is also enabled for stacked market participation, meaning it can simultaneously access multiple revenue streams, including:
- RA payments
- Energy arbitrage
- Ancillary services such as regulation and spinning reserves
This flexibility further enhances the project’s economics and makes it a blueprint for similar utility-scale battery deployments across the U.S. and internationally.
Global Momentum: Beyond Big Rock
The commissioning of Big Rock follows a series of strategic moves by GridBeyond as it expands its global footprint. Earlier this year, the company commenced commercial operations of the PORT battery in the Kanto region of Japan, marking a significant step into the Asian market. Additionally, GridBeyond is gearing up to bring three more battery storage systems online in ERCOT (Texas) later this summer, further bolstering its presence in one of the most active energy markets in the United States.
These developments highlight GridBeyond’s growing reputation as a trusted operator and optimizer of energy storage assets across major international markets.
