Industry
US: Trina Storage to deliver 1 GWh BESS; Samsung SDI lands $1.36B battery deal; BayWa r.e. secures funding for solar+storage
Two major supply deals and new financing for a solar-plus-storage project in San Diego County headline the latest US energy storage developments.
By
Tristan Rayner
Dec 12, 2025
Finance
Industry
Manufacturing
Trina Storage and Lightshift Energy strengthen their strategic partnership with a new 1 GWh portfolio across the U.S. (PRNewsfoto/Trina Storage) | Image: Trina Storage
Trina Storage has announced it is expanding on its existing partnership with US developer and owner-operator of energy storage systems, Lightshift Energy. The companies said the partnership will deliver a portfolio greater than 1 GWh of energy storage projects across the country, and make use of both Trina Storage’s Elementa 2.0 & 2.5 energy storage solutions.
The pair have previously demonstrated their work with four projects in Groton, Holden, and Paxton, in the Northeast state of Massachusetts in 2024. During a heatwave in the region, Trina Storage North America commissioned two sites ahead of schedule, and was able to provide capacity to utilities during periods of elevated demand.
While not declaring project locations, Trina Storage and Lightshift noted new installations will support utilities and local communities through enhanced grid stability, peak load management, and flexible capacity to handle the evolving grid. Lightshift deploys fleets of distribution-connected batteries as opposed to higher-voltage transmission-connected sites, often delivering swifter installations yet remaining at scale.
“We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Lightshift through this significant milestone,” said Doug Alderton, head of sales, Trina Storage North America. “Our earlier joint projects demonstrate what our strong partnership can accomplish under demanding conditions.”
Samsung SDI scores LFP deal as it switches from EV battery production
Samsung SDI, the battery arm of the Samsung Electronics conglomerate, said its US-based subsidiary had signed a three-year deal from 2026 to supply LFP energy storage batteries to an unnamed “American customer”, in a deal that exceeds $1.36 billion.
The LFP cells supplied by Samsung SDI will be installed in Samsung’s battery energy storage system (BESS) it calls SBB 2.0, a 20-foot containerized energy storage system. SBB 2.0 is Samsung SDI’s first energy storage system to use prismatic LFP batteries, with the previous SBB 1.7 equipped with high-nickel NCA cells.
The cells will come from modified production lines at Samsung SDI’s existing factory, originally built in partnership with Stallantis for the US EV market. As market demand for EVs has grown at slower-than-expected rates, Samsung has already converted lines to produce energy storage batteries.
A similar announcement for a Stellantis manufacturing facility in North America came in previous months, as NextStar’s Canadian battery plant shifted gears to produce stationary storage batteries as opposed to lines solely dedicated to EV cells.
BayWa r.e. secures financing for hybrid energy park: 125 MW solar, 280 MWh storage
The Jacumba Valley Ranch (JVR) Energy Park in Southeastern San Diego County has reached financial close, with $416 million in funding commitments secured. The park, rated at 90 MWac/127 MWdc of solar and 70 MWac/280 MWh, secured a construction-to-term loan facility from Société Générale, as well as a preferred equity investment from funds managed by alternative investment manager Wafra. Further, North American-based Acadia Infrastructure Capital invested preferred equity in JVR alongside Wafra. In addition, the company said it the project signed a tax credit transfer agreement with a large corporate buyer, without specifics.
BayWa r.e. said construction is now underway after the recent groundbreaking, marking the issuance of full notice to proceed under the construction agreement. BayWa r.e. has also committed $4 million in direct investment to Jacumba Valley, which is being directed by input from the Jacumba Community Sponsorship Group, the County of San Diego, and a local resident survey. A new Jacumba fire station will be designated on five acres of land, while the project also includes a 435-acre “biological open space easement,” as it attempts to minimize impact on sensitive habitats, wetlands, and waterways.
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