Denmark-based Ørsted has partnered with Wafra-backed Mission Clean Energy to advance four battery energy storage projects with a combined capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW) across the midwestern U.S.

The initiative marks Ørsted’s first standalone battery storage partnership in the U.S. and globally, the company said Aug. 8 in a news release.

“Continuing to invest in and build out storage solutions is critical for ensuring a resilient and reliable grid, and this partnership with Mission advances this important goal,” said James Giamarino, chief commercial officer for Ørsted.

Mission Clean Energy will lead development of the projects, while Ørsted will use its capital to secure and maintain interconnection queue positions for the four projects, according to a news release. Interconnection for the projects, which will be owned by Mission with an option for Ørsted to acquire an ownership stake, have been submitted in Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO) Central and North.

Use of battery energy storage systems is expected to continue rising, alongside renewable energy, to improve the reliability of electricity grids in the U.S. Earlier this year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasted battery storage capacity in the U.S. would set a record in this year. Battery storage capacity is expected to nearly double if companies’ plans to add 14.3 GW of battery storage to the existing 15.5 GW are fulfilled, the EIA said in February.

“The partnership with Ørsted marks a significant milestone for Mission Clean Energy,” said Mission Clean Energy CEO Max Bakker. “Ørsted is an ideal partner to complement our development capabilities with their balance sheet strength and sponsorship support. Our combined expertise and resources will accelerate these projects and deliver impactful clean energy solutions in the MISO region.”

Mission Clean Energy said it has a more than 11-GW pipeline of solar and energy storage projects across the U.S.

Ørsted is developing about 3 GW of offshore wind capacity. Its more than 5 GW of onshore clean energy assets in the U.S. includes a 40-megawatt (MW) storage project at the Permian Solar Center in West Texas and a 300-MW storage project at Eleven Mile Solar Center in Arizona.