Image: Sierra Estrella Energy/Salt River Project
Salt River Project (SRP) and Plus Power held a ribbon cutting for their new projects. The 250 MW Sierra Estrella Energy Storage facility, located in Avondale, Arizona, is SRP’s largest grid-tied battery and now the state’s largest standalone battery. The 90 MW Superstition Energy Storage facility, located in Gilbert, Arizona, is expected to come online shortly.
Both facilities feature Tesla lithium-ion battery energy storage systems. Plus Power worked with the Gilbert and Avondale Fire Departments on an emergency response plan and to ensure local first responders were engaged throughout the project design, construction, operation and training phases.
Additionally, both projects were supported by a federal investment tax credit from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
When both facilities are operational, nearly 1,300 MW of battery and pumped hydro storage will be on SRP’s system.
The utility aims to reduce emissions (from 2005 levels) by more than 65 percent by 2035 and 90 percent by 2050. As a part of that plan, SRP will retire approximately 2,600 MW of coal-fired generation by 2032.
Source: Power Engineering