Energize Weekly, December 11,2019
NV Energy has received the go-ahead from Nevada state regulators for 1,190 megawatts (MW) of new solar renewable energy twinned with 590 MW of energy storage.
The new capacity – solar and storage – will be in three projects located in southern Nevada and are set to be in operation by 2024, the company said. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) approved the plan Dec. 4.
“Today’s decision brings the environmental and price benefits of low-cost solar energy to our customers – and the addition of energy storage capabilities allows us to extend the benefits of renewable energy to times when the sun is not shining,” Doug Cannon, NV Energy CEO, said in a statement. “We are proud to be delivering a renewable energy vision to our customers that also supports Nevada’s economic and sustainability goals.”
In April, Nevada adopted a new law requiring utilities to generate 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
The PUCN has also drafted a proposal for a statewide target of 1,000 MW of energy storage by utilities by 2030. A bill was passed in 2017 directing the commission to assess the question of requiring utilities to add storage.
The proposal is being evaluated by the Legislative Counsel Bureau, which provides legal advice, fiscal information and background research to legislators.
NV Energy generates about 81 percent of Nevada’s electricity and is seeking to double its renewable energy capacity by 50 percent by 2023 to meet the new state law’s targets. In 2018, the utility submitted a plan to the PUCN calling for up to six new solar installations.
The three new projects are:
- The Arrow Canyon Solar Project, with 200 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with five-hour battery storage of 75 MW. EDF Renewable Energy is the developer.
- The Southern Bighorn Solar & Storage project, with a 300-MW PV solar array and a 135-MW energy storage system. 8minute Solar Energy is the developer.
- The Gemini + Battery Storage Project, a 690-MW solar array with a 380-MW AC battery storage system. The developer is Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in collaboration with Arevia Power.
The Arrow Canyon and Southern Bighorn projects will be located on the Moapa Band of Paiutes Reservation 20 and 30 miles northeast of Las Vegas respectively. The Gemini project will be sited on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
