Canadian Solar Unit to Supply 75 MW/381 MWh Battery for Michigan Solar Project
The deal highlights a move to single‑vendor storage packages as new tax‑equity and debt raises speed multi‑hour projects toward 2027 operation.
Overview
- The supply agreement, announced Wednesday, will see e‑STORAGE deliver a 75 MW/381 MWh SolBank 3.0 BESS to be co‑located with Apex Clean Energy’s 150 MW Coldwater Solar, with deliveries starting in early 2027 and commercial operation targeted for mid‑2027.
- e‑STORAGE will provide an integrated system that pairs SolBank 3.0 battery packs with power conversion systems and the company’s EQ‑S energy management system, using lithium‑iron phosphate (LFP) cells made at Canadian Solar facilities.
- Michigan’s law requiring 2.5 GW of storage by 2030 and planned coal retirements through 2032 are driving demand on the MISO grid for dispatchable, multi‑hour capacity the Coldwater storage element is designed to supply during peak demand.
- Developers are closing capital to match procurement: OCI Energy secured about $130 million of tax‑equity for a 120 MW/480 MWh Alamo City BESS and Spearmint arranged a $325 million expanded debt facility to push multiple U.S. projects toward 2027 commissioning.
- Together these moves show industry trends toward bankable, vertically integrated supply chains and longer‑duration batteries, which could lower peak prices for customers and replace retiring fossil plants with firm, on‑demand capacity.