Nevada-based utility NV Energy mentioned it plans so as to add greater than 1 GW of capability from solar energy and battery power storage to its technology portfolio by the top of 2027. The firm, which incorporates Las Vegas in its service territory and a part of billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, revealed extra sources in its newest built-in useful resource plan (IRP) that was not too long ago filed with state regulators. “This is our path ahead and these are our precedence tasks to satisfy the present and long-term wants of our present and future clients,” mentioned Doug Cannon, president and CEO of NV Energy. “The requested sources mirror a balanced portfolio that can scale back NV Energy’s reliance on costly and unreliable market sources and place Nevada to proceed to supply dependable power providers at a price beneath nationwide common and greater than 50% cheaper than the power charges paid by California residents.” NV Energy additionally mentioned it desires so as to add 400 MW of pure gas-fired peaking models to help the ability grid in periods of excessive demand.The utility says the peaking crops will assist scale back prices of power for patrons, and it’s identified that the models are designed to burn hydrogen sooner or later.
Solar and Battery Storage
The IRP contains energy buy agreements for 3 services:
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Dry Lake East, a proposed mission 20 miles northeast of Las Vegas in Clark County, has 200 MW of photo voltaic technology capability, together with a 200-MW battery with a four-hour length (800 MWh) . It is anticipated to be accessible by the top of 2026.
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Boulder Solar III, a proposed 128-MW photo voltaic mission in Boulder City, is anticipated to be operational by June 2027. The web site can even embody a 128-MW battery with a four-hour length (511.4 MWh).
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Libra Solar is a 700-MW solar energy set up that can embody a 700-MW battery with a four-hour length (2,800 MWh). It is deliberate for a web site about 20 miles south of the Fort Churchill substation in Yerington, close to the Mineral County/Lyon County border. It is anticipated to come back on-line by the top of 2027.
The 400 MW of extra gas-fired capability will probably be co-located with the North Valmy Generating Station, which is a 522-MW coal-fired energy plant. The models are anticipated to be operational beginning in 2028, sending electrical energy to northern sections of Nevada. The coal-fired models are anticipated to be retired subsequent yr. NV Energy has a number of solar energy tasks in its portfolio, most of that are tied to PPAs. —Darrell Proctor is senior affiliate editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
