The Calistoga Resiliency Center (CRC), the world’s largest clean microgrid, has received official approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to participate in CAISO energy markets — unlocking new revenue streams and maximizing the asset’s monetization potential.
Ribbon-cutting event hosted by Energy Vault is scheduled to take place at the facility in Calistoga, CA, on Friday, August 1, bringing together local government officials, technology partners, and energy stakeholders to celebrate this pioneering achievement.
Energy Vault Holdings Inc., a leader in sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, today announced that the Calistoga Resiliency Center (CRC) has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to pursue market-based participation in the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) energy and ancillary markets. This approval, coupled with the recent execution of a Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA), ensures the eligibility of the CRC to offer grid services to the larger grid following the completion of distribution upgrades. Together, these developments represent a milestone marking a major step forward in the deployment of clean, resilient, and economically optimized energy infrastructure.
Located in Northern California’s Napa Valley, the CRC is a landmark achievement in grid resiliency and decarbonization, designed to provide critical backup power to the Calistoga community during Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events, wildfires, and grid emergencies. The first-of-its-kind, state-of-the-art hybrid microgrid energy storage facility, integrates advanced hydrogen fuel cells with lithium-ion batteries. The CRC serves as a blueprint for future clean grid-resilient infrastructure in climate-vulnerable regions.
These developments remove the last barriers to the CRC earning revenues in California’s wholesale electricity market when the CRC is not needed for PSPS events. This is a significant milestone for Energy Vault, not only enhancing the financial value of the project but also validating the strategic integration of Energy Vault’s advanced technologies, including H-VAULT™, the Company’s proprietary ultra long-duration energy storage system platform, and Vault-Bidder™, an AI-powered platform for optimized asset bidding and dispatch.
Enabled by Vault-Bidder™, the CRC will be able to deliver market services such as energy shifting, regulation, and spinning reserve contributing essential grid services while maximizing revenue. This dual role—delivering community resilience and market performance—demonstrates the power and scalability of Energy Vault’s platform-based approach.
“The Calistoga Resiliency Center embodies the vision we’ve had since day one: enabling communities to thrive through clean, intelligent, and reliable energy systems,” said Marco Terruzzin, Chief Revenue Officer, Energy Vault. “This milestone not only affirms the performance of our H-VAULT™ and Vault-Bidder™ technologies but sets a precedent for what’s possible in building a grid that is both sustainable and financially robust. As grid operators worldwide face increasing demands for decarbonization and resiliency, CRC stands as a global model—delivering safety, sustainability, and profitability through innovation.”
A ribbon-cutting event is scheduled to take place at the facility in Calistoga, CA, on Friday, August 1, bringing together local government officials, technology partners, and energy stakeholders to celebrate this pioneering achievement.
The project, facilitated by the recent close of $28 million in financing, inclusive of the completed sale of the Investment Tax Credit associated with the project, is fully owned and operated by Energy Vault, with PG&E serving as the utility partner under a long-term energy services agreement.
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