Aypa Power and the Salt River Project (SRP) nonprofit say their Pediment battery energy storage system (BESS) unit has reached energization in Arizona.

Located in Mesa’s Elliot Road Technology Corridor, the 250 MW / 1 GWh BESS system is one of the largest in the Grand Canyon State. The unit has enough energy capacity to power up to 56,250 homes in the Salt River Valley, and is prepared for sustained load growth as the Phoenix metropolitan area continues to be one of the fastest growing population centers in the U.S.

“The addition of new battery energy storage resources provides SRP with flexibility and capacity that helps us reliably serve our customers,” says Bobby Olsen, SRP associate general manager and chief power system executive. “This project is an important addition to SRP’s energy portfolio and supports SRP’s commitment to providing reliable, affordable and sustainable power as the Valley continues to experience record growth.”

The SRP expects to “more than double” its current capacity over the next ten years, representatives say. Battery storage will play a crucial role in that expansion, allowing Arizonan utilities to meet excessive demand and maintain full grid strength even during peak hours.

Storage for the future

At peak construction, the Pediment battery project created more than 200 jobs for the Phoenix region, officials say. Now with the project online, those officials expect the project to deliver about $16 million in direct economic impact, $14 million of that coming as Maricopa County tax revenue.

“The Pediment project reflects Aypa’s disciplined approach to delivering reliable power infrastructure in high-growth markets,” says Aypa Power CEO Moe Hajabed. “Located in one of the nation’s leading data center corridors, our local projects are well-positioned to support growing demand from large-load customers, while strengthening overall grid reliability.”

Across all of Aypa Power’s projects in the SRP system total about 500 MW and 3 GWh of energy storage capacity, according to the company. Those projects not only add reliability and resiliency to the grid, but the company says they will support the utility’s ongoing investments in other distributed energy resources for its customers.

SRP is aiming to reduce its carbon intensity by 82% between 2005 and 2035, the firm says. The nonprofit boasts the eventual goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, it adds.

Tags: Aypa Power, batteries, batteroes, BESS, ESS, project, Salt River Project, storage, utility-scale