Salt River Project, NextEra Energy Resources partner on 100-MW battery storage system

Salt River Project has signed a contract with a NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary to add a 100-MW battery storage system to the existing 100-MW Saint Solar plant in Arizona.

The battery is expected to be operational in June 2023, the non-profit announced in a statement.

"The early deployment of large-scale battery storage systems will help us acquire operational experience with this new technology that will play a critical role in decarbonizing the power system," Kelly Barr, SRP's Chief Strategy, Corporate Services and Sustainability Executive, said in the statement.

The Saint Solar plant is owned and operated by a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources.

"SRP should be commended for its commitment to battery storage, which will enable it to better serve its customers with renewable energy over more hours of the day, even when the sun isn't shining," Matt Handel, NextEra Energy Resources senior vice president of development, said in the statement.

SRP projects

SRP, a nonprofit utility company, has a commitment to reduce carbon intensity from 2005 levels by more than 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050.

SRP has contracted with NextEra Energy Resources for other Arizona-based solar and battery storage projects, such as the Sonoran Energy Center, which will be the largest solar-charged battery project in the state, according to SRP. The roughly 260-MW solar system will have the ability to charge a 1 GWh energy storage system.

Additionally, SRP contracted for the output from an 88-MW solar and battery storage system called the Storey Energy Center.

Both projects will be operated by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources and are scheduled to become operational in June 2023.

SRP has also placed into service a 25-MW battery storage facility at its Bolster Substation, adjacent to its Agua Fria Generating Station.

SRP is also contracted for output from the 20-MW Pinal Central Energy Center, a solar plant paired with a 10-MW solar-battery, and the 10-MW Dorman battery storage system.

SRP's total commitment to battery storage will reach nearly 500 MW by 2023, according to the statement. The utility has also closed the largest coal plant in the Western US and will have retired 2.6 GW of coal-fired generation by 2032.