Salt River Project (SRP) has officially announced that the Sonoran Solar Energy Center, a landmark renewable energy facility, is now operational. Located south of Buckeye, Arizona, the project stands as the state’s largest battery energy storage system, developed in partnership with NextEra Energy Resources. This facility significantly bolsters the region’s clean energy infrastructure with a 260-megawatt (MW) solar farm paired with a 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery storage system.
A cornerstone of the project is a strategic collaboration to power Google’s upcoming data center in Mesa. The clean energy generated will help the tech giant advance its ambitious goal of operating its data centers and campuses on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030. Any surplus power generated by the Sonoran facility will be directed to SRP’s broader customer base, enhancing grid resilience for the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Amanda Peterson Corio, Global Head of Data Center Energy at Google, highlighted the project’s significance, stating, “The collaboration with Salt River Project and NextEra is accelerating decarbonization in Arizona and our carbon-free journey in the region.”
The Sonoran Solar Energy Center is engineered to capture solar power during peak sunlight hours, generating enough electricity to power nearly 80,000 average-sized homes. Its massive battery can store this energy for up to four hours, allowing SRP to dispatch clean power during periods of high demand, particularly in the late afternoon and evening when solar generation declines.
This facility is a critical piece of SRP’s broader vision to decarbonize its power portfolio while meeting the demands of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. As the utility proceeds with the retirement of 2,600 MW of coal-fired generation, it is aggressively expanding its clean energy resources. The Sonoran project is part of a larger portfolio that includes the 88-MW Storey Energy Center in Coolidge and the 161-MW Babbitt Ranch wind plant. With these additions, SRP is on track to operate over 1,100 MW of battery storage by the end of 2024.
“SRP and the Valley are fortunate to have sustainability-focused organisations like Google located here who help accelerate the transition to carbon-free power resources,” remarked Bobby Olsen, Chief Planning, Strategy, and Sustainability Officer at SRP.
Beyond its environmental benefits, the project is also a boon for the local economy. According to Anthony Pedroni, Vice President of Renewables and Storage Development at NextEra Energy Resources, these renewable energy centers will provide inexpensive, domestic energy. The development brings millions in additional tax revenue to Maricopa and Pinal counties, supporting a robust and sustainable energy system for Arizona’s future.
Sources According to SRP, Arizona’s Biggest Battery Energy Storage System Is Live
- SRP and EDP Renewables Announce New Energy Storage System …
- Arizona’s Largest Battery is Now Operating on SRP Grid
- SRP and ESS Announce New 50 MWh Long Duration Energy …
- SRP signs deal for two more battery storage stations to handle peak …
- Arizona: 1.2GWh BESS at PV-storage plant feeds Meta data centre
- Major battery energy storage system in Arizona supports Meta data …
- SRP announces another new battery storage facility – KJZZ
- Arizona’s Largest Battery Energy Storage System: A Game-Changer …
- Ørsted and SRP Celebrate Commencement of Largest Co-located …