California Fast-Tracks Project Set to Become World’s Largest Battery Facility

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California has taken a bold leap in the global renewable energy race with the approval of the Darden Clean Energy Project, a combined solar and battery installation set to host the world’s largest battery storage facility. This landmark development in western Fresno County reaffirms the state’s climate ambitions and sets a new benchmark in integrating solar and energy storage technologies. Spearheaded by Intersect Power through its subsidiary IP Darden I, LLC, the project was the first to gain approval under California’s new Opt-In Certification program.

Project Details

The Darden Clean Energy Project will feature 1.1 gigawatts of solar capacity paired with 4.6 gigawatts of battery energy storage. Once operational, the battery system alone will have the capacity to power about 850,000 homes for up to four hours. Spread across 9,500 acres of non-arable land, the site was selected to minimize environmental disruption while maximizing energy output. The project will connect to the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. grid, enabling large-scale energy distribution across the state. It ranks among the largest clean energy developments currently underway in the United States.

Opt-In Certification Program

The Opt-In Certification program, enabled by Assembly Bill 205, represents a significant shift in how California accelerates renewable infrastructure. Under this framework, eligible projects bypass local permitting in favor of direct certification by the California Energy Commission. The process includes a full environmental review that must be completed within 270 days. As the first project approved through this channel, Darden serves as a pilot for streamlined project delivery under high environmental scrutiny.

Economic and Community Impact

The Darden project is also an economic catalyst. It is expected to create more than 2,000 construction jobs, offering a substantial employment surge in the area. Beyond job creation, the project commits to investing $2 million in community programs over 10 years. The first investment of $320,000 has already been allocated to Centro La Familia Advocacy Services, which supports underserved communities in the San Joaquin Valley. These contributions reflect a broader intent to embed social equity within the energy transition.

Environmental and Strategic Importance

California’s goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2045 demands innovation in both generation and storage. The Darden project addresses the intermittency of renewables by enabling stored solar power to be dispatched during peak demand or after sunset. This capacity strengthens grid reliability, curbs dependence on fossil fuel peaker plants, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Its location on non-productive land further underscores the project’s environmental sensitivity and strategic foresight.

Positioned to become the world’s largest battery storage facility, the Darden Clean Energy Project exemplifies what is possible when policy innovation meets private investment. If replicated, the Opt-In Certification program could fast-track a new era of large-scale renewable projects.

Sources:

• PV Magazine article on Darden Clean Energy Project
• California Energy Commission press release