NV Energy is to commission nearly 1200MW of solar along with 590MW of energy storage in the US state of Nevada.
The capacity will be built as three projects all located in southern Nevada, in Clark County, all of which will be due online by the end of 2023.
Arrow Canyon is a 200MW photovoltaic project with a 75MW five-hour battery being developed by EDF Renewables North America, located 32km north-east of Las Vegas on the Moapa Band of Paiutes Indian Reservation.
EDF Renewables, which has signed a power purchase agreement with NV Energy, will provide operations and maintenance services for the life of the power plant.
EDF said it aims to start commercial operation of the facility by December 2022.
By coupling the solar facility with an energy storage solution, electricity produced during peak solar hours can be dispatched later in the day, balancing electricity generation and demand.
The battery will help smooth electricity prices, manage evening energy ramps, mitigate curtailment and provide grid stability.
Southern Bighorn Solar and Storage Centre is a 300MW PV array that includes a 135MW four-hour battery. The project will be built on the Moapa River Indian Reservation about 48km north of Las Vegas.
8minute Solar Energy is developing the project.
The Gemini solar and storage project is a 690MW PV installation coupled with a 380MW battery.
The project will be located on federally-owned land under the management of the Bureau of Land Management.
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in collaboration with Arevia Power is developing the project.
NV Energy will seek approval of the projects from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada as part of its integrated resource plan filing.
The projects are the result of a competitive solicitation initiated in the autumn of 2018, and will create more than 3000 temporary jobs using project labour agreements.
With the addition of the new solar projects, NV Energy will also exceed its goal of doubling its renewable energy capacity by 2023.
NV Energy president Doug Cannon said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to bringing low-cost solar energy to our customers while helping Nevada be a leader in clean energy development and the addition of battery storage helps extend the benefits of these solar projects when the sun isn’t shining.
“Bringing more renewable energy development to our state is what’s best for our customers, our economy, job creation and for our environment.”
In April, Senate Bill 358 was signed into law by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak requiring Nevada power providers to achieve a 50% renewable energy portfolio standard by 2030.
In May 2018, NV Energy announced what was, at the time, the largest renewable energy expansion in Nevada’s history – six new projects totalling 1001MW of new renewable energy to be built in the state with 100MW of battery storage.
The newly announced projects will be added to NV Energy’s current portfolio of 57 geothermal, solar, hydro, wind, biomass and supported rooftop solar projects both in service and under development.