Energy Estate US Holdings and electric vehicle charging startup Kilows have entered an exclusive collaboration to explore an integrated clean energy and transport development in Santa Nella, California. The proposed initiative would combine renewable power generation, battery energy storage, and ultra-fast electric vehicle charging infrastructure within a single coordinated system. The partnership is intended to demonstrate how energy and transport assets can be planned together to support more efficient infrastructure, grid resilience, and lower-emission mobility.
Linking Solar Power and EV Charging
Under the agreement, the companies will investigate opportunities to connect Energy Estate’s San Luis Solar Project with a proposed Kilows electric vehicle charging facility. Their work will cover development planning, permitting, and project design as they assess the technical and commercial potential of the integrated model. The collaboration remains at the development stage, with the parties focusing on how renewable generation and charging demand could be aligned from the outset.
The project would form part of the broader vision for the proposed San Luis Industrial Complex, also known as SLIC, in California’s Central Valley. Energy Estate describes the planned complex as an infrastructure hub that could bring together renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, transport networks, and other energy-intensive industries. The Santa Nella initiative is expected to serve as an early example of how these elements could operate within a connected energy and industrial precinct.
Building Renewable-Powered Transport Infrastructure
Kilows is developing ultra-fast electric vehicle charging infrastructure centered on 500-kilowatt charging technology supported by battery energy storage. Its model is designed to provide faster and more reliable charging while reducing the strain that high-powered charging facilities can place on the electricity grid. By integrating renewable power and storage directly into charging hubs, the company aims to create scalable infrastructure for busy transport corridors and commercial mobility networks.
Kilows founder John Strisowser said Santa Nella offers a suitable location to demonstrate how clean energy and charging infrastructure can be developed as a unified system. The company believes the approach could support rising demand for electrified freight, passenger mobility, and other high-use transport applications. It also sees the development as a potential blueprint for future charging hubs in locations where grid capacity and charging reliability are critical considerations.
Supporting California’s Energy Transition
Energy Estate Director USA Neal Aronson said the collaboration reflects the company’s view that major infrastructure projects should connect energy generation with the industries and communities they serve. The proposed development is intended to support California’s wider investment in transport decarbonization, renewable power, and new industrial infrastructure. It could also contribute to regional economic development by attracting businesses that require access to reliable clean energy and enabling infrastructure.
The partnership comes as developers increasingly seek to coordinate renewable energy generation, energy storage, and electricity demand within the same project. This approach can potentially reduce grid congestion, improve project economics, and provide greater certainty for transport operators adopting electric vehicles. However, the final configuration, construction timeline, and investment requirements will depend on the outcome of planning, permitting, and technical assessments.
Potential for International Collaboration
Energy Estate and Kilows also identified possible opportunities to apply the integrated development model in Australia and New Zealand. Both markets are experiencing increased investment in renewable generation, battery storage, electric mobility, and supporting transport infrastructure. The companies indicated that lessons from the California project could inform future collaboration as these technologies become more closely connected.
Energy Estate develops and invests in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and integrated energy precincts designed to support industrial electrification. Kilows is focused on developing future-ready charging hubs that combine ultra-fast charging with battery systems and renewable power. Their collaboration brings together large-scale project development expertise and a specialized charging platform aimed at high-demand transport locations.
The Santa Nella partnership represents an effort to move beyond standalone charging stations and renewable energy projects toward a more coordinated infrastructure model. By exploring the integration of solar generation, energy storage, and ultra-fast EV charging, Energy Estate US and Kilows aim to support cleaner transport while improving system efficiency and resilience. If successfully developed, the project could offer a replicable framework for renewable-powered transport corridors in California and other international markets.