Arizona Electric Co-op Launches 940MWh Solar-Plus-Storage Project to Enhance Collaboration and Reduce Costs for Consumers.

Arizona electric co-op AEPC has launched a solar-plus-storage project, Apache Solar II project BESS, with a capacity of up to 940MWh. The project is undergoing siting, design, and permitting over the next several months, with commercial operation expected by summer 2023. Although not specified, utilities in Arizona have typically signed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with BESS project operators for the offtake of a system, AEPCO CEO Patrick Ledger said the project demonstrates the advantage of smaller utilities collaborating on a larger project to take advantage of economies of scale and reduce costs for all participants and their electric consumers. In related news, two projects have also been completed recently in Arizona, with EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) completing a solar project with a 60MWh BESS for Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC), while Silicon Ranch has deployed a similar size system for another co-operative in the state.