Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Pasadena Water and Power (PWP), a department of the City of Pasadena, is soliciting proposals for a comprehensive Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project to be constructed at the Glenarm Power Plant location in Los Angeles County, California. The procurement seeks a private entity to design, engineer, permit, finance, procure, operate, and maintain a 25 MW utility-scale lithium-ion battery storage system with a minimum four-hour storage capability. Key deliverables include a fully functional BESS with 100 MWh storage capacity, capable of providing capacity, ancillary services, and resource adequacy benefits to the city. The project requires compliance with multiple technical specifications, including UL 9540 safety certifications, California Rule 21, and IEEE 1547-2018 standards. Evaluation criteria will weight proposals based on proposed solution (30%), financial value (35%), project viability and technical strength (15%), project management and implementation plan (10%), and local business preferences (10%). The proposal submission deadline is October 18, 2023, with an anticipated project construction timeline beginning in August 2024 and completion by August 2025. Proposals must include options for the City to purchase the BESS at the Commercial Operation Date, Year Two, and Year Five after project completion.

The solicitation encourages participation from local and diverse businesses, with considerations for local hiring preferences and compliance with the Pasadena Living Wage Ordinance. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly stated, the contract includes provisions for workforce diversity and equal employment opportunity reporting. The project will integrate with existing electrical infrastructure at the Glenarm Power Plant, including a 35 kV circuit and new breakers, with a point of connection at 34.5 kV. The contract structure includes a minimum 15-year Energy Storage Agreement with a proposed pricing mechanism of a fixed price per kilowatt-month, covering supply, design, delivery, operation, and maintenance. Potential contractors must demonstrate relevant experience in large-scale energy storage projects and comply with comprehensive insurance requirements, including coverage ranging from $1,000,000 to $20,000,000 depending on the insurance type. While a specific total project budget is not disclosed, the project represents a significant investment in Pasadena's renewable energy infrastructure, aimed at supporting the city's climate action and energy reliability goals.