May 7, 2026
ESA Solar Energy LLC has sold its 150 MW / 600 MWh Salzburg Battery Energy Storage Project to Fredericia, a Denmark-based energy company Ørsted.
The project, located in Midland Township in central Michigan, first received approval in early 2025 and is strategically located to help the Mitten State meet its utility needs, the companies say. The project’s new owner is targeting a commercial energy delivery date between 2029 and 2030, with the project already making progress on permitting and progress milestones.
Michigan is quickly becoming a hot spot market for energy storage, sales enablement representatives say Analyze rising say. The company served as an advisor to ESA through its Ascend Energy Exchange and says Michigan is aiming for a portfolio standard of 60% renewable energy by 2035, and 100% renewable energy generation by 2040.
“ESA has deep expertise in early-stage project development and its track record of working with leading renewable energy and storage companies such as Ørsted positions the Salzburg BESS project to make substantial long-term contributions to Michigan’s clean capacity goals,” said Rahm Orenstein, Managing Director of the Ascend Energy Exchange.
Sell Salzburg
ESA has “deep experience” with renewable energy projects in Michigan and the surrounding area, Ascend Analytics says, and has been serving the region since 2017. Following the sale, the company will maintain a local presence in central Michigan.
“ESA has long been focused on developing projects that combine strong fundamentals with permitting and interconnection advances, allowing us to truly contribute to state and local energy needs in a timely manner,” said Lindsay Latre, co-founder and CEO of ESA. “Ørsted is the ideal partner to guide the Salzburg project through the next phase of its development and we are pleased to work with them as we help achieve Michigan’s energy and environmental goals.”
ESA has helped develop more than 8 GW of solar and storage over the past decade, the company says. The broader project portfolio currently includes commercial headquarters, industrial facilities, community solar projects and utility-scale projects.
This deal, Ørsted says, is part of a broader renewable energy growth strategy in the Great Lake State.
“Michigan is poised for significant growth in clean energy and electrification, and energy storage will be essential to maintaining reliability as the scale of renewable energy sources increases,” said James Giamarino, CCO of Ørsted Americas. “The acquisition of this energy storage project fits well within our strategic growth ambitions, adds to our development pipeline and strengthens Ørsted’s growing US storage portfolio with a strategically located asset.”
Tags: Ascend Analytics, ESA Solar Energy, M&A, Michigan, project, utility scale, Ørsted
