EDP partnered with utility from Arizona to develop new energy storage system that will support increasing energy demand in the US
The Flatland Energy Storage project will enable the storage of 200 MW of energy to support Arizona’s grid. The project will create job opportunities in the local community.
EDP, through EDP Renewables North America, and Salt River Project (SRP), an early adopter of battery storage technology, have entered into an agreement to provide 200 MW of new energy storage to Arizona’s grid. The Flatland Energy Storage Project will be a 200 MW/800 MWh battery energy storage system located near Coolidge, Arizona.
The project will utilize lithium-ion technology, designed, and manufactured in the U.S. by Tesla. Scheduled to be in operation in 2025, the facility will have enough capacity to power more than 45,000 homes for a four-hour period during peak electricity demand periods. The batteries will absorb excess energy when customer demand is lower and store it for use during times of peak demand.
A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) plays a vital role in supporting the energy transition by addressing several key challenges in renewable energy integration, grid stability, and energy efficiency. These systems are crucial in creating a cleaner, more resilient, and adaptable energy infrastructure. EDP is investing globally in this area, having several BESS in development also in Europe.
Flatland Energy Storage Project is set to provide significant benefits to the local regional economy. EDP is also going to support local small businesses during the lifetime of the project, which will create 60 construction jobs and host two permanent operations positions upon completion. In addition, Flatland is being seen as contributing to national energy security for the state of Arizona, helping diversify domestic power supply.
“We’re excited to be partnering with SRP on the largest utility-scale storage project in the EDP group’s global portfolio to date. Storage is key to modernizing the US power grid and is a requisite in accelerating the adoption of renewable energy while boosting grid reliability and resiliency”, added Sandhya Ganapathy, COO of EDP Renewables North America.
“Battery energy storage is an essential piece of SRP’s plan to decarbonize our portfolio and maximize the amount of renewable energy delivered to our customers. The Flatland Energy Storage Project will help us meet the increasing energy demand of one of the fastest growing areas of the nation”, said Bobby Olsen, SRP Associate General Manager and Chief Planning, Strategy and Sustainability Executive.
This project reinforces the existing partnership between EDPR and SRP. In July of this year, EDP Renewables, together with Salt River Project and Meta, inaugurated the Brittlebush Solar Park with a capacity of 200 MW located near the town of Coolidge, Arizona, also in the US. The Flatland Energy Storage Project is located within the Brittlebush Solar Park. This location will allow the battery to store energy from the grid or from the solar facility to best match the output to times of highest customer demand.