US utility Arizona Public Service (APS) is aiming to add 500 MW of energy storage to its grid over the next 15 years in order to boost the use of renewable energy.
The company has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the addition of battery storage capacity to its grid-scale solar power plants located across the state of Arizona.
The solicitation is for up to 106 MW in total, and represents one of the largest battery storage projects in the USA, APS said. The storage capacity will enable the company’s existing solar capacity to help meet peak energy needs reliably during hours when the sun is not shining.
APS already operates three grid-scale batteries on its system and is planning to commission a fourth in 2021. In its latest solicitation, it has specified that projects should be operational by June 2020.
APS operates multiple grid-scale solar plants across the state, including Gila Bend, Buckeye, Chino Valley, Hyder Valley, Yuma and Glendale. The total capacity of these plants is in excess of 1 GW, APS said.
