Iberdrola has announced two new milestones in its global strategy for expanding renewable energy and electricity infrastructure. The company confirmed the construction of its first battery storage system in the United States and inaugurated the largest photovoltaic plant in its portfolio in Italy, reinforcing its commitment to combining renewable generation with technologies focused on the flexibility of the electrical system.
The projects are aligned with the group's strategy of accelerating the electrification of the economy and increasing energy security in markets considered strategic. The new storage system, named Shutler, will be installed in Gilliam County, Oregon.
The project will have an installed capacity of 41 MW and a storage capacity of 82 MWh, making it Iberdrola's first battery project in the North American market. The facility will be located next to other renewable assets operated by Avangrid, the company's subsidiary in the United States, which already has approximately 3 GW of generation capacity in the northwestern region of the country.
Scheduled to become operational in 2027, the system will allow energy to be stored during periods of low demand or high renewable generation and returned to the grid during peak consumption periods. Technology should contribute to increasing the stability of the electrical system in the Pacific region, facilitating the integration of renewable sources and expanding the resilience of the grid in the face of growing electricity demand.
The investment also accompanies the expansion of the use of battery-based energy storage systems (BESS), considered essential for balancing supply and demand in real time and reducing the variability characteristic of wind and solar power sources.
Largest solar power plant in Italy
Meanwhile, Iberdrola inaugurated the Fénix photovoltaic plant in Sicily, which becomes the company's largest solar project in Italy. With an installed capacity of 243 MW, the plant is expected to produce approximately 400 MWh per year, a volume sufficient to meet the equivalent consumption of more than 140 homes.
The complex is located between the municipalities of Centuripe, Paternò, and Belpasso, in the provinces of Enna and Catania, and has more than 413 bifacial photovoltaic modules. The infrastructure also includes 26 kilometers of medium-voltage lines and another 9 kilometers of high-voltage lines for connection to the electrical grid.
During the construction phase, more than 500 professionals worked on the project during peak periods. A large portion of the plant's production is already committed through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed with Italian companies. According to Iberdrola, this model provides greater predictability of energy costs for consumers.
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