Idaho Power announces plans for state’s first large-scale battery storage projects

Idaho Power said it plans to install 120 megawatts (MW) of battery storage, the state’s first utility-scale storage system, by next summer.

The storage facility will help the company maintain reliable service during high use periods while furthering the company’s goal of providing 100 percent clean energy by 2045.

“This is an exciting step for Idaho Power. Not only are we adding capacity to serve our customers, but we are taking advantage of advancements in technology that will be key to our future. Battery storage enables us to use existing generation sources efficiently while setting the stage for more clean energy in the coming years,” said Adam Richins, Idaho Power’s senior vice president and chief operating officer.

Last month, the company filed a request for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. The commission will determine whether the proposal is in the public interest.

Scheduled to come online by June 2023, the 40-MW system is slated for the proposed Black Mesa solar facility in Elmore County. Other potential sites are still being reviewed, the company said. A potential location for an 80 MW system is the Hemingway Substation near Melba, although other options for that location are being considered as well.

Idaho Power’s planning process found that the company needs additional capacity as early as next summer to serve customers during peak hours when irrigation pumps and air conditioners drive up demand. The company said that the 40-MW battery can power more than 13,000 average homes for four hours during peak use hours and more when demand is lower. Batteries can be recharged in about four hours, depending on their energy source.