# Carlsbad Energy Center

CAISO Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/carlsbad-energy-center

Carlsbad Energy Center is a natural gas-fired power facility with 659 MW of EIA-reported nameplate capacity in San Diego County, California, registered as EIA Plant ID 59002. Clearway Energy, Inc. is the current owner; NRG California Peaker Operations LLC is the registered plant entity or operator. The Carlsbad project used a bank-and-project-bond hybrid financing structure that was characterized as one of the largest such transactions to date for a greenfield power asset, despite construction-period risk. Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired a 100% interest in the plant from Global Infrastructure Partners III in 2019.

## Key facts

- Technology: Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine
- Power capacity: 659 MW
- Operating status: operating

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: CAISO
- Balancing authority: CISO (CAISO)
- Transmission owner: San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E)
- Interconnection voltage: 230 kV

## Source-backed facts

- Owner logo domain: clearwayenergygroup.com — Conventional gas plants - Clearway · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"59002","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CEC 6","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 7","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 8","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 9","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 10","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CISO","system":"Balancing authority"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO market"},{"value":"CARLS1_2_CARCT1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"CARLS2_1_CARCT1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"07-AFC-06","system":"CEC docket"},{"value":"TN 205625","system":"CEC post-certification amendment"}] — prev_day_outages · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"59002","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CEC 6","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 7","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 8","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 9","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CEC 10","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"CISO","system":"Balancing authority"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO market"},{"value":"CARLS1_2_CARCT1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"CARLS2_1_CARCT1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"},{"value":"07-AFC-06","system":"CEC docket"},{"value":"TN 205625","system":"CEC post-certification amendment"}] — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Official project url: https://www.clearwayenergygroup.com/projects/conventional-energy/ — Conventional gas plants - Clearway · confidence: high
- Description: Carlsbad Energy Center is an operational 659-MW natural-gas plant in San Diego County, California, with five generating units. The constructed facility uses GE LMS100-PA natural-gas-fired combustion turbines in simple-cycle configuration and provides fast-start generation. The California Energy Commission record places it at the former Encina Power Station complex and records operation beginning December 12, 2018. — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Canonical name: Carlsbad Energy Center — Index - MBR · confidence: high
- Canonical name: Carlsbad Energy Center — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Identifiers.8: {"value":"CARLS1_2_CARCT1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"} — prev_day_outages · confidence: high
- Identifiers.9: {"value":"CARLS2_1_CARCT1","system":"CAISO market resource ID"} — prev_day_outages · confidence: high
- Identifiers.10: {"value":"07-AFC-06","system":"CEC docket"} — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Identifiers.11: {"value":"TN 205625","system":"CEC post-certification amendment"} — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Parties.2: {"relationship":"Original project company / developer","name":"Carlsbad Energy Center LLC","official_url":null} — Source · confidence: medium
- Parties.3: {"relationship":"EPC contractor","name":"ARB Industrial, a Primoris company","official_url":"https://www.prim.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Parties.4: {"relationship":"EPC joint-venture partner","name":"Burns & McDonnell Engineering Corporation","official_url":"https://www.burnsmcd.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Parties.5: {"relationship":"Turbine OEM","name":"General Electric (GE)","official_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100"} — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Parties.5: {"relationship":"Turbine OEM","name":"General Electric (GE)","official_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100"} — LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine · confidence: medium
- Parties.7: {"relationship":"Licensing authority","name":"California Energy Commission","official_url":"https://www.energy.ca.gov/"} — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Site acres: 95 — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Unit configuration: Five GE LMS100-PA natural-gas-fired, air-cooled simple-cycle combustion turbines with catalytic emission controls. — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Power mw: 527 — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Power mw: 527 — Conventional gas plants - Clearway · confidence: medium
- Unit count: 5 — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Product url: https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100 — Source · confidence: medium
- Significance: The Carlsbad project used a bank-and-project-bond hybrid financing structure that was characterized as one of the largest such transactions to date for a greenfield power asset, despite construction-period risk. It also provides contracted fast-start generation and reliability support in the San Diego Gas & Electric service territory. — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Description: Carlsbad Energy Center is an operational natural-gas-fired simple-cycle facility at the former Encina Power Station complex in Carlsbad, San Diego County. The amended project was approved for six GE LMS100-PA turbines and 632 MW, but five turbines were constructed, with regulatory records reporting approximately 526.5–527 MW of net output. Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of the relevant GIP holding-company interests on December 6, 2019, while NRG was the predecessor owner and original project sponsor. The facility began commissioning in May 2018 and commercial operation on December 12, 2018, under a 20-year power-purchase and tolling arrangement with San Diego Gas & Electric. — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Description: Carlsbad Energy Center is an operational natural-gas-fired simple-cycle facility at the former Encina Power Station complex in Carlsbad, San Diego County. The amended project was approved for six GE LMS100-PA turbines and 632 MW, but five turbines were constructed, with regulatory records reporting approximately 526.5–527 MW of net output. Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of the relevant GIP holding-company interests on December 6, 2019, while NRG was the predecessor owner and original project sponsor. The facility began commissioning in May 2018 and commercial operation on December 12, 2018, under a 20-year power-purchase and tolling arrangement with San Diego Gas & Electric. — Clearway Energy, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Carlsbad Energy Center | Clearway Energy, Inc. · confidence: medium
- Description: Carlsbad Energy Center is an operational natural-gas-fired simple-cycle facility at the former Encina Power Station complex in Carlsbad, San Diego County. The amended project was approved for six GE LMS100-PA turbines and 632 MW, but five turbines were constructed, with regulatory records reporting approximately 526.5–527 MW of net output. Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of the relevant GIP holding-company interests on December 6, 2019, while NRG was the predecessor owner and original project sponsor. The facility began commissioning in May 2018 and commercial operation on December 12, 2018, under a 20-year power-purchase and tolling arrangement with San Diego Gas & Electric. — Source · confidence: medium
- Quality notes: ["Capacity figures differ by measurement and reporting convention: an EIA-linked plant record reports 659 MW, while the California Energy Commission and air-district records describe the constructed facility as five turbines totaling approximately 526.5–527 MW net; the CEC's 632 MW figure is the approved amended-project capacity.","The sixth approved turbine was not built. The 2018 retirement and 2022 demolition records refer to the predecessor Encina Power Station and its structures, not to retirement of the Carlsbad Energy Center.","No separate retirement or repowering event for the operating Carlsbad Energy Center is identified in the cited history. A 2024 CEC air-quality amendment continued to describe only five turbines and stated that one approved turbine had never been built."] — Staff Analysis - Petition to Amend Air Quality Conditions of... · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: Construction financing closed in May 2017 through Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC: $407 million of 21.4-year senior secured notes and a $194 million 10.4-year term loan, used to finance construction, financing fees, interest during construction, and reduce the equity commitment. On November 4, 2019, the GIP-owned project company issued $216 million of investment-grade senior secured, non-recourse notes at 4.21%, fully amortizing over 19 years. These financing amounts are separate from sale consideration: Clearway paid $184 million in cash on December 6, 2019 and assumed $803 million of project-level financing; an earlier February 2018 NRG-to-NRG Yield agreement provided for $365 million of cash consideration plus assumed non-recourse project debt of $601 million, subject to the GIP transaction. — Source · confidence: high
- Timeline: [{"event":"Original project certification","date":"2012-05-31","detail":"The California Energy Commission approved the 558 MW Carlsbad Energy Center Project at the Encina Power Station complex."},{"event":"Amended project certification","date":"2015-07-30","detail":"The CEC approved a post-certification amendment for a six-turbine, 632 MW GE LMS100-PA natural-gas simple-cycle project. Five turbines were ultimately constructed."},{"event":"Construction authorization","date":"2016-06-06","detail":"The CEC approved the start of Phase II construction of the amended project; the CEC record identifies Phase II construction as beginning in May 2016."},{"event":"Construction financing","date":"2017-05","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC issued $407 million of senior secured project notes and obtained a $194 million term loan to finance construction."},{"event":"Predecessor-owner sale agreement","date":"2018-02-06","detail":"NRG Energy agreed to sell 100% of Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned the project, to NRG Yield for $365 million in cash consideration, subject to customary adjustments and the closing of the NRG-GIP transaction; the agreement also contemplated assumed project debt."},{"event":"Commissioning","date":"2018-05-02","detail":"Commissioning operations began for the five installed natural-gas turbines."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2018-12-12","detail":"The constructed Carlsbad Energy Center began commercial operation."},{"event":"Predecessor Encina retirement","date":"2018-12-11","detail":"The adjacent/predecessor Encina Power Station was retired on December 11, 2018, one day before Carlsbad entered commercial operation; this was not a retirement of Carlsbad Energy Center."},{"event":"Acquisition from GIP","date":"2019-12-06","detail":"Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, for $184 million in cash plus assumption of $803 million of project-level financing."},{"event":"Project-level refinancing ahead of acquisition","date":"2019-11-04","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, then a GIP subsidiary, issued $216 million of investment-grade senior secured non-recourse notes bearing 4.21% interest and amortizing over 19 years."},{"event":"Encina demolition completed","date":"2022-08","detail":"Demolition of the former Encina Power Station and above-ground structures west of the railroad tracks was completed; the CEC confirmed the site was ready for redevelopment."},{"event":"Air-quality amendment confirming installed configuration","date":"2024-09-18","detail":"A CEC staff analysis stated that the amendment covered only five turbines because one approved turbine had never been built."}] — Carlsbad Energy Center · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Original project certification","date":"2012-05-31","detail":"The California Energy Commission approved the 558 MW Carlsbad Energy Center Project at the Encina Power Station complex."},{"event":"Amended project certification","date":"2015-07-30","detail":"The CEC approved a post-certification amendment for a six-turbine, 632 MW GE LMS100-PA natural-gas simple-cycle project. Five turbines were ultimately constructed."},{"event":"Construction authorization","date":"2016-06-06","detail":"The CEC approved the start of Phase II construction of the amended project; the CEC record identifies Phase II construction as beginning in May 2016."},{"event":"Construction financing","date":"2017-05","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC issued $407 million of senior secured project notes and obtained a $194 million term loan to finance construction."},{"event":"Predecessor-owner sale agreement","date":"2018-02-06","detail":"NRG Energy agreed to sell 100% of Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned the project, to NRG Yield for $365 million in cash consideration, subject to customary adjustments and the closing of the NRG-GIP transaction; the agreement also contemplated assumed project debt."},{"event":"Commissioning","date":"2018-05-02","detail":"Commissioning operations began for the five installed natural-gas turbines."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2018-12-12","detail":"The constructed Carlsbad Energy Center began commercial operation."},{"event":"Predecessor Encina retirement","date":"2018-12-11","detail":"The adjacent/predecessor Encina Power Station was retired on December 11, 2018, one day before Carlsbad entered commercial operation; this was not a retirement of Carlsbad Energy Center."},{"event":"Acquisition from GIP","date":"2019-12-06","detail":"Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, for $184 million in cash plus assumption of $803 million of project-level financing."},{"event":"Project-level refinancing ahead of acquisition","date":"2019-11-04","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, then a GIP subsidiary, issued $216 million of investment-grade senior secured non-recourse notes bearing 4.21% interest and amortizing over 19 years."},{"event":"Encina demolition completed","date":"2022-08","detail":"Demolition of the former Encina Power Station and above-ground structures west of the railroad tracks was completed; the CEC confirmed the site was ready for redevelopment."},{"event":"Air-quality amendment confirming installed configuration","date":"2024-09-18","detail":"A CEC staff analysis stated that the amendment covered only five turbines because one approved turbine had never been built."}] — Source · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Original project certification","date":"2012-05-31","detail":"The California Energy Commission approved the 558 MW Carlsbad Energy Center Project at the Encina Power Station complex."},{"event":"Amended project certification","date":"2015-07-30","detail":"The CEC approved a post-certification amendment for a six-turbine, 632 MW GE LMS100-PA natural-gas simple-cycle project. Five turbines were ultimately constructed."},{"event":"Construction authorization","date":"2016-06-06","detail":"The CEC approved the start of Phase II construction of the amended project; the CEC record identifies Phase II construction as beginning in May 2016."},{"event":"Construction financing","date":"2017-05","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC issued $407 million of senior secured project notes and obtained a $194 million term loan to finance construction."},{"event":"Predecessor-owner sale agreement","date":"2018-02-06","detail":"NRG Energy agreed to sell 100% of Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned the project, to NRG Yield for $365 million in cash consideration, subject to customary adjustments and the closing of the NRG-GIP transaction; the agreement also contemplated assumed project debt."},{"event":"Commissioning","date":"2018-05-02","detail":"Commissioning operations began for the five installed natural-gas turbines."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2018-12-12","detail":"The constructed Carlsbad Energy Center began commercial operation."},{"event":"Predecessor Encina retirement","date":"2018-12-11","detail":"The adjacent/predecessor Encina Power Station was retired on December 11, 2018, one day before Carlsbad entered commercial operation; this was not a retirement of Carlsbad Energy Center."},{"event":"Acquisition from GIP","date":"2019-12-06","detail":"Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, for $184 million in cash plus assumption of $803 million of project-level financing."},{"event":"Project-level refinancing ahead of acquisition","date":"2019-11-04","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, then a GIP subsidiary, issued $216 million of investment-grade senior secured non-recourse notes bearing 4.21% interest and amortizing over 19 years."},{"event":"Encina demolition completed","date":"2022-08","detail":"Demolition of the former Encina Power Station and above-ground structures west of the railroad tracks was completed; the CEC confirmed the site was ready for redevelopment."},{"event":"Air-quality amendment confirming installed configuration","date":"2024-09-18","detail":"A CEC staff analysis stated that the amendment covered only five turbines because one approved turbine had never been built."}] — Source · confidence: medium
- Timeline: [{"event":"Original project certification","date":"2012-05-31","detail":"The California Energy Commission approved the 558 MW Carlsbad Energy Center Project at the Encina Power Station complex."},{"event":"Amended project certification","date":"2015-07-30","detail":"The CEC approved a post-certification amendment for a six-turbine, 632 MW GE LMS100-PA natural-gas simple-cycle project. Five turbines were ultimately constructed."},{"event":"Construction authorization","date":"2016-06-06","detail":"The CEC approved the start of Phase II construction of the amended project; the CEC record identifies Phase II construction as beginning in May 2016."},{"event":"Construction financing","date":"2017-05","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC issued $407 million of senior secured project notes and obtained a $194 million term loan to finance construction."},{"event":"Predecessor-owner sale agreement","date":"2018-02-06","detail":"NRG Energy agreed to sell 100% of Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned the project, to NRG Yield for $365 million in cash consideration, subject to customary adjustments and the closing of the NRG-GIP transaction; the agreement also contemplated assumed project debt."},{"event":"Commissioning","date":"2018-05-02","detail":"Commissioning operations began for the five installed natural-gas turbines."},{"event":"Commercial operation","date":"2018-12-12","detail":"The constructed Carlsbad Energy Center began commercial operation."},{"event":"Predecessor Encina retirement","date":"2018-12-11","detail":"The adjacent/predecessor Encina Power Station was retired on December 11, 2018, one day before Carlsbad entered commercial operation; this was not a retirement of Carlsbad Energy Center."},{"event":"Acquisition from GIP","date":"2019-12-06","detail":"Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, for $184 million in cash plus assumption of $803 million of project-level financing."},{"event":"Project-level refinancing ahead of acquisition","date":"2019-11-04","detail":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, then a GIP subsidiary, issued $216 million of investment-grade senior secured non-recourse notes bearing 4.21% interest and amortizing over 19 years."},{"event":"Encina demolition completed","date":"2022-08","detail":"Demolition of the former Encina Power Station and above-ground structures west of the railroad tracks was completed; the CEC confirmed the site was ready for redevelopment."},{"event":"Air-quality amendment confirming installed configuration","date":"2024-09-18","detail":"A CEC staff analysis stated that the amendment covered only five turbines because one approved turbine had never been built."}] — Staff Analysis - Petition to Amend Air Quality Conditions of... · confidence: medium
- Timeline.0: {"event":"Original project certification","date":"2012-05-31","detail":"The California Energy Commission approved the 558 MW Carlsbad Energy Center Project at the Encina Power Station complex."} — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Timeline.1: {"event":"Amended project certification","date":"2015-07-30","detail":"The CEC approved a post-certification amendment for a six-turbine, 632 MW GE LMS100-PA natural-gas simple-cycle project. Five turbines were ultimately constructed."} — Carlsbad Energy Center · confidence: medium
- Timeline.2: {"event":"Construction authorization","date":"2016-06-06","detail":"The CEC approved the start of Phase II construction of the amended project; the CEC record identifies Phase II construction as beginning in May 2016."} — Project Bond Focus · confidence: high
- Timeline.4: {"event":"Predecessor-owner sale agreement","date":"2018-02-06","detail":"NRG Energy agreed to sell 100% of Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned the project, to NRG Yield for $365 million in cash consideration, subject to customary adjustments and the closing of the NRG-GIP transaction; the agreement also contemplated assumed project debt."} — Source · confidence: high
- Timeline.7: {"event":"Predecessor Encina retirement","date":"2018-12-11","detail":"The adjacent/predecessor Encina Power Station was retired on December 11, 2018, one day before Carlsbad entered commercial operation; this was not a retirement of Carlsbad Energy Center."} — Clearway Energy, Inc. (Form: 10-K, Received: 03/02/2020 11:58:43) · confidence: high
- Timeline.8: {"event":"Acquisition from GIP","date":"2019-12-06","detail":"Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned Carlsbad Energy Center LLC, for $184 million in cash plus assumption of $803 million of project-level financing."} — Staff Analysis - Petition to Amend Air Quality Conditions of... · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.0: {"relationship":"Owner","name":"Clearway Energy, Inc.","detail":"Acquired 100% of the GIP holding-company interests that indirectly owned Carlsbad Energy Center LLC on December 6, 2019; Clearway's portfolio identifies 100% ownership of the 527 MW Carlsbad asset.","official_url":"https://www.clearwayenergygroup.com/projects/conventional-energy/"} — Clearway Energy, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Carlsbad Energy Center | Clearway Energy, Inc. · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.1: {"relationship":"Operator","name":"NRG California Peaker Operations LLC","detail":"Plant operator identified for EIA plant 59002; NRG's project case study describes the five-turbine, fast-start Carlsbad facility.","official_url":"https://www.nrg.com/case-studies/carlsbad.html"} — Source · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.2: {"relationship":"2019 seller","name":"Global Infrastructure Partners III","detail":"Sold the relevant Carlsbad holding-company interests to Clearway Energy, Inc. in December 2019 through its subsidiary Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC.","official_url":"https://www.global-infra.com/"} — Clearway Energy, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Carlsbad Energy Center | Clearway Energy, Inc. · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.5: {"relationship":"Project company / indirect asset owner","name":"Carlsbad Energy Center LLC","detail":"Project company identified in regulatory records and held indirectly through the Carlsbad holding-company structure; no separate corporate website was identified.","official_url":null} — Source · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.6: {"relationship":"Project borrower and note issuer","name":"Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC","detail":"Issued the 2017 construction-financing notes and term-loan debt and issued $216 million of senior secured non-recourse notes in November 2019.","official_url":null} — NRG Energy, Inc. · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.7: {"relationship":"EPC contractor","name":"ARB Industrial, a Primoris company","detail":"Provided EPC responsibility in a joint venture with Burns & McDonnell for the five-unit GE LMS100-PA natural-gas simple-cycle facility, including balance-of-plant equipment, design, construction, commissioning, and schedule delivery.","official_url":"https://www.prim.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.8: {"relationship":"EPC joint-venture partner","name":"Burns & McDonnell Engineering Corporation","detail":"Joint-venture EPC partner with ARB Industrial for the Carlsbad construction package.","official_url":"https://www.burnsmcd.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.9: {"relationship":"Turbine OEM","name":"General Electric (GE)","detail":"Supplier of the LMS100-PA natural-gas-fired combustion-turbine technology used in the constructed facility.","official_url":"https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100"} — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.11: {"relationship":"Licensing authority","name":"California Energy Commission","detail":"Certified the project, approved the 2015 post-certification amendment, authorized construction, and maintains the principal regulatory project record under docket 07-AFC-06.","official_url":"https://www.energy.ca.gov/"} — Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Acquisition detail: Clearway Energy, Inc. completed its acquisition of the 527-MW Carlsbad Energy Center from Global Infrastructure Partners III (GIP) on December 6, 2019, for $184 million. The transaction followed GIP's February 27, 2019 purchase of 100% of the membership interests in Carlsbad Energy Holdings LLC, the project-owning entity. The August 31, 2018 NRG-to-GIP transaction was a corporate-parent transfer that enabled the GIP backstop, not itself a direct plant sale. — Source · confidence: high
- Balancing authority: CISO (CAISO) — Curtailed · confidence: high

## Timeline

- 2012-05-31 — Original project certification
  The California Energy Commission approved the 558 MW Carlsbad Energy Center Project at the Encina Power Station complex.
  Source: Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/carlsbad-energy-center)
- 2015-07-30 — Amended project certification
  The CEC approved a post-certification amendment for a six-turbine, 632 MW GE LMS100-PA natural-gas simple-cycle project. Five turbines were ultimately constructed.
  Source: Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/carlsbad-energy-center)
- 2016-06-06 — Construction authorization
  The CEC approved the start of Phase II construction of the amended project; the CEC record identifies Phase II construction as beginning in May 2016.
  Source: Carlsbad Energy Center (https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=231598&DocumentContentId=63417)
- 2018-02-06 — Predecessor-owner sale agreement
  NRG Energy agreed to sell 100% of Carlsbad Energy Holdings, LLC, which indirectly owned the project, to NRG Yield for $365 million in cash consideration, subject to customary adjustments and the closing of the NRG-GIP transaction; the agreement also contemplated assumed project debt.
  Source: Source (https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1567683/000110465918007001/a18-5561_1ex99d1.htm)
- 2018-05-02 — Commissioning
  Commissioning operations began for the five installed natural-gas turbines.
  Source: Source (https://www.sdapcd.org/content/dam/sdapcd/documents/permits/public-notices/Carlsbad-Energy-Center-Statement-of-Basis-2.pdf)
- 2018-12-12 — Commercial operation
  The constructed Carlsbad Energy Center began commercial operation.
  Source: Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/carlsbad-energy-center)
- 2019-12 — Acquisition closed
  Clearway Energy, Inc. acquired 100% of GIP's membership interests in CBAD Holdings, LLC (which indirectly owns Carlsbad Energy Center LLC) for $184 million cash on December 6, 2019.
  Source: Clearway Energy, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Carlsbad Energy Center | Clearway Energy, Inc. (https://investor.clearwayenergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/clearway-energy-inc-completes-acquisition-carlsbad-energy-center)
- 2022-08 — Encina demolition completed
  Demolition of the former Encina Power Station and above-ground structures west of the railroad tracks was completed; the CEC confirmed the site was ready for redevelopment.
  Source: Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/carlsbad-energy-center)

## Sources

- [Conventional gas plants - Clearway](https://www.clearwayenergygroup.com/projects/conventional-energy/) — clearwayenergygroup.com · tier other
- [Index - MBR](https://mbrweb.ferc.gov/SearchlkpEIA/Index?page=625) — mbrweb.ferc.gov · tier regulatory
- [prev_day_outages](https://www.caiso.com/documents/curtailed-non-operational-generator-prior-trade-date-report-20250616.xlsx) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Carlsbad Energy Center | California Energy Commission](https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/simple-cycle/carlsbad-energy-center) — energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Clearway Energy, Inc. Completes the Acquisition of Carlsbad Energy Center | Clearway Energy, Inc.](https://investor.clearwayenergy.com/news-releases/news-release-details/clearway-energy-inc-completes-acquisition-carlsbad-energy-center) — investor.clearwayenergy.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.sdge.com/sites/default/files/SDGE-Carlsbad-PPTA-Testimony-DBaerman-PUBLIC.pdf) — sdge.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.prim.com/~/media/Files/P/Primoris-V4/documents/arb-industrial-carlsbad-energy-center2.pdf) — prim.com · tier other
- [LMS100 Aeroderivative Gas Turbine](https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lms100) — gevernova.com · tier other
- [Source](https://prim.com/~/media/Files/P/Primoris-V4/documents/arb-industrial-carlsbad-energy-center2.pdf) — prim.com · tier other
- [Project Bond Focus](https://www.ca-cib.com/sites/default/files/2020-03/Project-Bond-Focus-2019-15-Milestone-Transactions.pdf) — ca-cib.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.sdapcd.org/content/dam/sdapcd/documents/permits/public-notices/Carlsbad-Energy-Center-Statement-of-Basis-2.pdf) — sdapcd.org · tier other
- [Staff Analysis - Petition to Amend Air Quality Conditions of ...](https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=259209) — efiling.energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Clearway Energy, Inc. (Form: 10-K, Received: 03/02/2020 11:58:43)](https://content.edgar-online.com/ExternalLink/EDGAR/0001567683-20-000008.html?hash=40bc7f40845e1c1be001bd31677269abc45d8249bd261f1866fe42bf82749a54&dest=CLEARWAYINCEX102720191_HTM) — content.edgar-online.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1567683/000110465918007001/a18-5561_1ex99d1.htm) — sec.gov · tier regulatory
- [Carlsbad Energy Center](https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=231598&DocumentContentId=63417) — efiling.energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [NRG Energy, Inc.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1013871/000101387117000021/nrg2017063010q.htm) — sec.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://clearwayenergygroup.com/projects/conventional-energy) — clearwayenergygroup.com · tier other
- [Power plant profile: Carlsbad Energy Center Project, US](https://www.power-technology.com/data-insights/power-plant-profile-carlsbad-energy-center-project-us/) — power-technology.com · tier other
- [Curtailed](https://www.caiso.com/documents/curtailed-non-operational-generator-am-report-20250712.xlsx) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.caiso.com/documents/appendix-a-system-data.pdf) — caiso.com · tier other

## Data quality

- Capacity figures differ by measurement and reporting convention: an EIA-linked plant record reports 659 MW, while the California Energy Commission and air-district records describe the constructed facility as five turbines totaling approximately 526.5–527 MW net; the CEC's 632 MW figure is the approved amended-project capacity. The sixth approved turbine was not built. The 2018 retirement and 2022 demolition records refer to the predecessor Encina Power Station and its structures, not to retirement of the Carlsbad Energy Center. No separate retirement or repowering event for the operating Carlsbad Energy Center is identified in the cited history. A 2024 CEC air-quality amendment continued to describe only five turbines and stated that one approved turbine had never been built.

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Source: Ask the Grid — https://askthegrid.com/