Utility-scale energy storage systems are poised to be a vital part of modernizing the grid. This week, we placed into service a 25-megawatt (MW) battery storage facility at its Bolster Substation.
Adjacent to its Agua Fria Generating Station and located in Peoria, 25 MW is enough energy to power about 5,600 typical residential homes.
The battery system consists of a series of Tesla Megapacks that are connected directly to SRP’s energy grid and is the largest stand-alone battery storage system in Arizona.
The batteries can be recharged overnight when power is abundant and less expensive and then discharged during peak energy periods to help meet high customer demand.
“Battery storage is an extremely important and growing component of SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goals to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Powering the grid of the future
The storage solution is extremely efficient and can make use of renewable energy when there is a surplus. The variable nature of renewable energy production results in energy being produced at times when demand is low.
Now, that same energy can be used to charge a battery storage system potentially increasing the use of “clean” energy when demand is highest.
The system’s renewable-charging capability will also increase over time as SRP continues to add more solar energy resources to its power grid.
SRP has significantly more solar energy capacity currently under development. Once all under-development solar is operational, total solar capacity on SRP’s power system will far exceed SRP’s goal, equaling more than 2,450 MW.
“Battery storage is an extremely important and growing component of SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goals to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Kelly Barr, SRP’s Chief Strategy, Corporate Services and Sustainability Executive. “The Bolster Substation Battery System adds to our already considerable investment in battery storage and further allows us to offset carbon-emitting resources by storing energy and providing it to our customers when they need it most.”
Expanding solar capabilities
Recently, we contracted for the output from the Sonoran Energy Center, which will be the largest solar-charged battery project in the state, giving SRP one of the largest commitments to energy storage in the nation.
Additionally, we contracted for an additional large-scale solar and battery storage project called the Storey Energy Center to be built south of Coolidge. Both projects are scheduled to become operational in June 2023.
In addition to the new Bolster Substation Battery System in Peoria, SRP receives power and collects data from two pilot battery storage projects. These include:
- Pinal Central Solar Energy Center, a 20 MW, integrated solar energy and battery storage plant in Casa Grande
- Dorman battery storage system a 10 MW, 40 megawatt-hour stand-alone battery storage system in Chandler.