Arizona Public Service Company launches two proposal requests for renewables, battery storage

Arizona Public Service Company (APS) issued two requests for proposals (RFPs) this week for renewable energy, peaking capacity resources, and battery energy storage.

Under the plans, solar will be paired with storage, as seen most recently in a separate agreement between APS and Invenergy. That agreement will add battery energy storage to six APS solar plants in Arizona’s Maricopa and Yuma counties by early 2022. APS hopes to add more battery storage at two other existing plants while adding 300-400 MW per year of other clean energy resources. This, the company believes, will help it to reach 100 percent clean energy by 2050 by allowing solar benefits to continue after sunset.

“We have made steady progress since setting our clean energy goal in January,” Brad Albert, APS vice president of resource management, said. “Moving ahead with our energy storage plans, our recent purchase of more clean wind generation, and our expanded voluntary energy conservation program all support meeting the needs of our growing customer base with reliable, affordable, and increasingly cleaner resources.”

In addition to the raw power capabilities added, APS intends the additional renewables request to address peak capacity needs of about 200-300 MW per year needed to maintain reliable electric service during times of high energy usage. Any proposed projects must have in-service dates of no later than 2024. If the company can achieve this, an interim goal of reaching 45 percent of generation stemming from renewables by 2030 will be within reach.

As to the battery storage requests, APS intends to add a total of 60 MW to its Red Rock and Chino Valley plants. Any proposals must be able to begin delivery no later than June 1, 2023.