Arevon Energy marks construction milestone at 250 MW Cormorant battery storage project in Daly City, California
Arevon Energy hit a construction milestone at its Cormorant Energy Storage Project in Daly City, California, on September 16, 2026. The celebration brought state and local officials, project partners, labor and business leaders, and community members to the site of what will become a 250 MW/1,000 MWh battery storage facility — big enough to power 321,000 homes for up to four hours at peak demand. Commercial operations are expected to begin in 2027.
Arevon marks construction progress at Daly City battery storage site
The September 16 milestone wasn’t just a photo op. It pulled together a genuinely broad group — state and local officials, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) representatives, labor and business leaders, community members — all there to recognize how far the project has come since construction kicked off in March 2026.
Arevon CEO Justin Johnson put the project’s purpose plainly: “Cormorant represents the kind of critical energy infrastructure California needs to meet growing electricity demand while strengthening grid reliability.” Store power when there’s plenty of it, deliver it when the grid needs it most. That’s the whole idea.
Cormorant is a 250 MW/1,000 MWh battery storage project in Daly City, California, developed and operated by Arevon in partnership with Primoris Services Corporation.
Daly City Mayor Glenn Sylvester echoed that framing, noting the project positions the city as an active contributor to statewide infrastructure goals — not merely a host community. Commercial operations remain on track for 2027.
Project expanded and backed by long-term power agreement with MCE
Cormorant didn’t start out at its current scale. Originally designed at 188 MW/752 MWh, it was later bumped up to 250 MW/1,000 MWh. That expansion came with a key partner: MCE, a community electricity provider serving more than 1.8 million residents and businesses across Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano counties, which contracted for the additional capacity under a long-term offtake agreement.
The partnership goes beyond buying power. MCE’s Acting CEO Vicken Kasarjian noted that more than $500,000 from the contract will flow directly to local community programs. “This project has a direct community benefit,” he said — pointing to built-in funding for initiatives supporting Bay Area residents. On the construction side, Arevon is working with Primoris Services Corporation’s Renewables group, and at peak the project employs around 175 workers.
Grid reliability and environmental benefits expected over project lifetime
Battery storage projects like Cormorant absorb electricity during off-peak hours — when solar generation is high and demand is lower — then release it when the grid is under stress. That charge-and-dispatch cycle is what makes storage a reliability tool, not just a clean energy one.
Cormorant uses lithium iron phosphate battery technology, which carries a strong safety record and a long operating life. Both matter for a project expected to run for decades. Over its lifetime, the facility is projected to avoid 191,800 U.S. tons of CO₂ annually and save more than 4.2 billion gallons of water — figures that reflect displaced emissions and the water savings compared to conventional thermal generation.
The CPUC sees projects like this as essential. Energy Division Director Molly Sterkel said the agency expects more than 20 GW of new clean resources to come online by 2032, with battery storage described as “a critical part of that effort” — particularly for filling the reliability gap when solar drops off in the evening and demand stays high.
Economic impact and community investment in Daly City
Beyond the grid, Cormorant is expected to generate more than $73 million in property tax revenue over its lifetime, flowing to local schools, infrastructure, and public services. That’s a long-term fiscal benefit that outlasts the construction phase by a wide margin.
Arevon has built relationships with more than a dozen local organizations throughout the project’s development. Partners include Bayshore Elementary School District, Jefferson Union High School District, Daly City Partnership, Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center, Bayshore Community Center, Pacific Islands Together, and John’s Closet, among others. The company’s involvement has spanned donations, sponsorships, scholarships, memberships, and volunteer work — a range that signals sustained engagement rather than a one-time check.
Mike Stancil, Executive Director of the Daly City Partnership, described Arevon as “a caring and compassionate corporate partner.” Arevon itself operates more than 6.3 GW of solar and energy storage projects across 18 states and holds the No. 1 developer ranking in Solar Power World’s 2026 Top Solar Contractors List for California. Cormorant is one of several recent California storage projects the company has brought through development and into construction.
A long-term agreement with MCE
Cormorant is a 250 MW/1,000 MWh battery storage project in Daly City, California, developed and operated by Arevon in partnership with Primoris Services Corporation. It operates under a long-term agreement with MCE, which serves the broader Bay Area, and is expected to reach commercial operations in 2027.
The project can power 321,000 homes for up to four hours during peak demand. Projected outcomes include avoiding 191,800 U.S. tons of CO₂ annually, saving more than 4.2 billion gallons of water over its lifetime, and generating more than $73 million in local property tax revenue. More than $500,000 from the MCE contract is earmarked for community programs in the region.
Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.
