GlidePath Begins Operations at New 50MW Battery Storage Facility Near Houston, TX
Byrd Ranch expands GlidePath’s operating storage portfolio in Texas, deploys artificial intelligence capabilities with Habitat Energy
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GlidePath Power Solutions LLC (“GlidePath”), today announced it has successfully completed construction and commissioning and commenced operation at the 50 MW Byrd Ranch Storage Project (“Byrd Ranch”) in Sweeny, TX. Byrd Ranch is the latest addition to GlidePath’s portfolio of battery storage projects in Texas and PJM territories and will provide critical grid support to assist the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manage grid stress and volatility. Moreover, Byrd Ranch will utilize the advanced optimization capabilities of Habitat Energy to maximize the operational performance of the project.
Byrd Ranch is located approximately 60 miles south of Houston and began construction earlier this year. Since 2013, GlidePath has been developing, building and operating utility-scale battery storage projects. The GlidePath team managed the engineering, procurement and construction of Byrd Ranch and worked in a collaborative partnership with top tier suppliers of advanced battery storage equipment and integration services to deliver this project.
“We are proud to help create a more robust and reliable Texas grid by delivering GlidePath’s latest battery storage project so close to a major energy hub in Houston,” said Chris McKissack, CEO of GlidePath. “GlidePath’s team safely and successfully managed the development and construction of Byrd Ranch Storage from start to finish during a period of extraordinary supply chain challenges. We’re looking forward to operating this project using the very latest storage technology available and showcasing what Byrd Ranch can do to benefit the local community as well as enhance reliability and resiliency for Texas power users.”
GlidePath selected partners that, in the Company’s evaluation, offered the latest and ‘best in class’ storage technology solutions for Byrd Ranch. Habitat Energy Limited will provide AI-enabled energy bidding and performance optimization services and IHI Terrasun, the energy storage system integrator, is providing power plant control software and lifecycle services with a 10-year warranty and maintenance services agreement for the project.
Since its founding nearly a decade ago, GlidePath has seen new energy storage technologies move from idea to real-world implementation and continues to develop and construct projects using industry-leading solutions. “What we are able to do with the newest power plant controllers is truly impressive,” said Tahir Amin, GlidePath’s new SVP of Project Execution and Operations. “The flexibility, data analytics, and the amount of certainty we are getting as an operator is only possible with the technology that has been carefully developed by partners that have dedicated the resources to create state-of-the-art equipment. Byrd Ranch is a prime example of that achievement.”
GlidePath is a portfolio company of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners.
About GlidePath
GlidePath Power Solutions (https://glidepath.net/) is a leading independent developer and owner of energy storage systems, operating projects in multiple markets and with a deep nation-wide development pipeline. Based in Elmhurst, Illinois, GlidePath’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a 100% carbon-free electric grid deliberately and profitably through sustainable, accessible energy storage development, deployment, operations, and optimization.
About Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (http://www.quinbrook.com) is a specialist investment manager focused exclusively on renewables, storage and grid support infrastructure and operational asset management in the US, UK, and Australia. Quinbrook is led and managed by a senior team of power industry professionals who have collectively invested c.US$8.2 billion equity in energy infrastructure assets since the early 1990s, representing a total enterprise value of c.US$28.7 billion or 19.5 GW of power supply capacity. Quinbrook has completed a diverse range of direct investments in both utility and distributed scale onshore wind and solar power, battery storage, reserve peaking capacity, biomass, fugitive methane recovery, hydro and flexible energy management solutions in the US, UK, and Australia. Quinbrook is currently developing and constructing some of the largest renewables and storage infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the US, UK and Australia.
Contacts
Peter Gray, Aileron Communications
312-883-5044, pgray@aileroninc.com
