Overview
- Ørsted's Old 300 Storage reached commercial operation Wednesday as a 250 MW/500 MWh Tesla Megapack battery system fully connected to the ERCOT grid.
- The project can discharge 250 MW at full output for two hours and is operated separately from the adjacent 430 MW Old 300 Solar farm.
- Ørsted bought the Megapacks from Tesla, which manufactured the units at its Lathrop, California Megafactory and supplied integrated battery modules, inverters, thermal controls, and software.
- The battery will provide grid services such as short-term power during peak demand, frequency and voltage support, and the ability to charge when supply is plentiful and discharge when the grid needs power.
- Together with the nearby solar farm, the projects are expected to generate about $110 million in property tax revenue, expand Ørsted's U.S. onshore portfolio toward roughly 6 GW, add 500 MWh to Tesla's stationary deployments, and include coordinated safety training with the Needville Fire Department.