Moss Landing Power Plant

Moss Landing Power Plant
Moss Landing Power Plant, with its highly visible stacks
CountryUnited States
LocationMoss Landing, California
Coordinates36°48′17.54″N 121°46′55.19″W / 36.8048722°N 121.7819972°W / 36.8048722; -121.7819972
StatusOperational
Commission date1950
OwnerVistra Corp
Thermal power station
Primary fuelNatural gas
Combined cycle?Yes
Power generation
Units operational2 × 530 MW
Units decommissioned7
Nameplate capacity1,060 MW
Annual net output5,336 GWh (2022)
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons
Vistra Moss battery
Country
  • United States
Coordinates36°48′09″N 121°46′25″W / 36.80250°N 121.77361°W / 36.80250; -121.77361
OwnerVistra Corp
Power generation
Nameplate capacity450 MW (was 750)
Storage capacity1800 MWh (was 3000)
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons
PG&E Elkhorn battery
Country
  • United States
Coordinates36°48′28″N 121°46′56″W / 36.80778°N 121.78222°W / 36.80778; -121.78222
OwnerPG&E
Power generation
Nameplate capacity182.5 MW
Storage capacity730 MWh
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons

The Moss Landing Power Plant is a natural gas powered electricity generation plant as well as a battery energy storage facility, located in Moss Landing, California, United States, at the midpoint of Monterey Bay. As of 2025, the site's battery storage facility is one of the largest in the world, at 630 MW (power) and 2,500 MWh (energy). The energy storage facility stores excess electricity for later use during periods of lower electricity production (usually evening hours). Excess electricity is typically produced by solar electricity during the daytime.

The battery energy storage facility at Moss Landing consists of two smaller energy storage facilities. The first battery storage facility, known as the Vistra Energy Storage Facility is owned and operated by the Vistra Corp, and the second, known as the Elkhorn Battery Facility is owned and operated by California's PG&E utility company. The Elkhorn Battery Facility utilizes Tesla batteries to meet its energy storage needs.

The plant's two large 500′ tall stacks are local landmarks, visible throughout the Monterey Bay Area. Both the power generating plant and one of the battery storage facilities are owned and operated by the Irving, Texas based Vistra Corp. PG&E owns the second battery energy storage facility. The power generation plant currently has a capacity of 1020 MW (net) from its two combined cycle units. It was once the largest power plant in the state of California, with a generation capacity of 2560 MW, before its two large supercritical steam units were retired in 2016.