California’s Frontwave Arena gets rooftop solar | Projects Weekly
This edition of Projects Weekly highlights the newly completed DSD Renewables and Baker Electric project to install 797 kW of solar and 1.14 MWh of storage on the roof of Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California. Plus, we’re looking at GridBeyond’s new battery energy storage system in El Centro, California, as well as Enbridge’s bid to build a 600 MW solar project to support Meta Platforms data center in Texas, Nautilus Solar securing a $275 million investment to expand community solar across Illinois, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Delaware, and Xcel Energy embarking on a new project portfolio in Texas and New Mexico that includes 3,200 MW of dispatchable generation and energy storage and 1,968 MW of wind and solar. Keep reading for all the details.
DSD, Baker Electric complete solar + storage project for Frontwave Arena
DSD Renewables and Baker Electric have completed a 797.07 kW solar installation paired with 1.14 MWh of battery energy storage for Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California. The 1,350-panel rooftop system generates approximately 1,249,052 kWh of electricity annually.
“The completion of this system marks a significant step toward our shared vision for sustainable infrastructure and operations,” said Scott Williams, executive VP at Baker Electric. “By partnering with DSD, we were able to successfully deliver a system that reflects the arena’s commitment to sustainability and sets a new standard for energy-conscious entertainment venues in the region.”
Baker Electric is a member of DSD’s channel partner program, the Developer Network, offering project resources for developers and EPCs with regional expertise.
Cool factor: Frontwave Arena, designed to be a world-class sports and entertainment venue with an emphasis on sustainable operations, serves as the home of the professional indoor soccer team, the San Diego Sockers, and the NBA G League professional basketball team, the San Diego Clippers. In addition to the solar installation, the venue has committed to reducing water usage, waste production, and overall greenhouse gas emissions.
“From the beginning, our mission has been to build a best-in-class venue in North County San Diego that prioritizes entertainment, community and sustainable practices.” said Josh Elias, cofounder and CEO of Frontwave Arena. “With the support of DSD and Baker Electric, this project will allow us to not only offset a significant portion of our energy use, but also demonstrate our long-term commitment to sustainability while providing memorable experiences to our patrons.”
Learn more about this project in this episode of Dispatches From the Energy Transition
GridBeyond energizes 200 MW energy storage site in California
GridBeyond and Gore Street Energy Storage Fund plc have begun operating the Big Rock Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in El Centro, California. Bringing Big Rock live involved a large team of more than 20 people coordinating across multiple countries and time zones, comprising data scientists, regulatory analysts and industrial control engineers.
To ensure maximum return on investment and grid impact, GridBeyond was selected to provide trading and optimization services for the Big Rock BESS. Central to its offering is GridBeyond’s proprietary AI-based Bid Optimizer, which matches market price forecasts with real-time battery performance simulations to drive optimal bid strategies in the CAISO market.
Cool factor: At 200 MW / 400 MWh, Big Rock BESS is the largest asset managed by Gore Street Capital and GridBeyond. The project will dispatch power to roughly 200,000 homes in Southern California during peak times.
”This is an enormous battery system and an important source of resiliency to the state of California,” said Sean McEvoy, president of North America at GridBeyond. As CAISO’s daily Regulation Up/Down requirement is often around 500 MW-1,200 MW in total, this resource alone can provide up to 15-40% of the state’s Regulation Services needs in certain hours.”
Enbridge building 600 MW solar project to support Meta Platforms data center
Enbridge Inc. has reached a final investment decision on Clear Fork, a 600 MW solar project in Texas. Meta Platforms Inc. has signed a long-term contract for 100% of the renewable output of the project. Enbridge’s estimated project cost is $900 million.
Cool factor: Construction is now underway on the utility-scale solar facility near San Antonio. The facility is expected to enter in service during the summer of 2027.
“Clear Fork demonstrates the growing demand for renewable power across North America from blue-chip companies who are involved in technology and data center operations,” said Matthew Akman, executive VP of corporate strategy and president of power at Enbridge. “Enbridge continues to advance its world-class renewables development portfolio using our financial strength, supply chain reach and construction expertise under a low-risk commercial model that delivers strong competitive returns.”
Nautilus Solar secures $275M investment to expand community solar
Nautilus Solar Energy LLC, on behalf of its affiliate Nautilus US Power Holdco LLC (NUPH), has acquired a $275 million tax equity partnership with Greenprint Capital. The deal marks the largest tax equity financial commitment in the company’s history. The investment will support between 25 and 30 community solar projects delivering more than 130 MW of clean energy across Illinois, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Delaware.
“This landmark investment is a testament to Nautilus’s proven track record and deep expertise within the community solar space. With this portfolio, and others being in different stages of development, Nautilus is well-positioned to continue leading the growth of clean energy infrastructure that is resilient and built for long-term value,” said Camelia Miu, Chief Financial Officer at Nautilus. “We are now able to further expand our diversified portfolio across key markets while helping accelerate the clean energy transition and ensuring broader access to affordable, renewable energy.”
Cool factor: The projects are currently under construction and are expected to bring renewable energy to households across the five states. Once fully operational, the portfolio will deliver significant environmental and economic benefits to local communities, including clean energy to more than 11,000 households, and is expected to create 190 jobs in the communities where they are built.
This investment is part of a broader $2.5 billion tax equity joint venture between Greenprint Capital and funds managed by AB CarVal. NUPH is the long-term owner of the projects, responsible for overseeing construction, financing, maintaining long-term performance and acquiring and managing customer subscriptions through its proprietary community solar subscriber management and acquisition platform.
Xcel Energy announces portfolio of new power projects in Texas and New Mexico
Xcel Energy has announced new generation resource additions as part of an overall portfolio to meet the rising energy needs of its Texas and New Mexico service area. The portfolio includes extensions of 521 MW of existing generation and the addition of 17 new power projects that will add 5,168 MW of new capacity to the region’s generation fleet by 2030. Technologies selected include 3,200 MW of dispatchable generation and energy storage and 1,968 MW of wind and solar facilities.
“This portfolio is about more than just adding power. We are working to increase speed to market with a stronger, modern and more resilient energy system that our customers can count on,” said Adrian Rodriguez, president of Xcel Energy – Texas, New Mexico. “We’re investing in the right mix of resources to benefit customers by keeping electricity reliable and supporting economic growth so we can meet our region’s energy needs today and in the future.”
Cool factor: To help meet New Mexico’s 50% renewable energy requirement by 2030, two solar projects are included as additions to the portfolio and will be dedicated to New Mexico customers. The region’s electricity demand is expected to grow by more than 40% by 2030, driven by population growth, industrial expansion and increased electrification. New planning reserve margin requirements from the Southwest Power Pool further raise the bar, with utilities now required to have more capacity to meet increasing seasonal demand.
Xcel Energy will seek approval of the portfolio from state regulators in the second half of 2025. Encouraged by developer response to this recent solicitation and to increase speed to market for new customers and those seeking to expand their regional operations, the company plans to issue another all-source request for proposals to secure additional resources to be operational by 2032.
Louth Callan begins construction on 27 MW solar project in New Hampshire
Louth Callan Renewables (LCR) has commenced construction on a new 27 MW solar project in New Hampshire. The project was recently awarded to LCR as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner.
Cool factor: Site mobilization began in mid-July, with civil work being completed and underway with Brooks Construction. Full commissioning is expected by Q3 2026.
“We’re excited to bring our construction expertise to another large solar project in the New England region,” said Nick Sylvestre, founder and CEO of Louth Callan Renewables. “Our team has spent worked hard to value engineer the project to help the owner make it a buildable and valuable asset. Now we’re focused on executing a clean, safe, and high-quality build that reflects our commitment to industry best practices and community engagement.”
