- AES Corporation completes the first phase of its Bellefield solar-plus-storage project.
- Phase 1 delivers 500 MW solar and 500 MW battery storage capacity under a 15-year contract with Amazon.
- The entire project is expected to power 467,000 homes and cut over 1 million metric tons of CO2 annually.
The AES Corporation (AES, Financial) has successfully completed the first phase of the Bellefield solar-plus-storage project, which, upon full completion, will be the largest of its kind in the United States. The initial phase contributes 500 megawatts (MW) of solar energy alongside 500 MW of four-hour battery storage. This milestone was achieved through a 15-year agreement with Amazon, reflecting AES’s strategic partnerships with global hyperscalers.
Situated in Kern County, California, the Bellefield project will encompass a total capacity of 2,000 MW once both phases are completed. The facility is designed to power the equivalent of 467,000 homes while significantly curbing greenhouse emissions by over 1 million metric tons of CO2 annually. AES has utilized its AI-enabled robotic system, Maximo, to enhance construction efficiency, creating 700 union jobs during the first phase.
Phase 2 of the project is on track for completion in 2026, and the earnings from Phase 1 are expected to impact AES's financials positively in the second half of 2025. This progress underscores AES's commitment to executing large-scale renewable projects efficiently and maintaining a robust contractual portfolio of 10.1 GW with major hyperscalers.
