First Citizens Bank’s energy finance business served as lead agent on a $170 million credit facility for esVolta, a developer, owner and operator of utility-scale battery energy storage projects in North America.

The facility supports the completion of the company’s esFaraday portfolio, which comprises 370 megawatt hours of energy storage projects in California. The portfolio consists of two operational projects and two construction projects, all of which deploy commercially proven battery technology.

“The esFaraday projects are important assets in our company’s growing California storage project portfolio,” Randolph Mann, CEO of esVolta, said. “We’re pleased to continue our relationship with the experienced team at First Citizens and appreciate the constructive creativity of the entire lender group in executing this refinancing transaction.”

The refinancing upsizes a credit facility from February 2020, which was arranged by CIT prior to its merger with First Citizens in January 2022.

“esVolta is recognized as an industry leader in utility-scale battery projects,” Mike Lorusso, energy finance group head at First Citizens Bank, said. “We are pleased to support esVolta by successfully leading the effort on this important financing.”