TEP expanded its energy storage capacity by 1,000 percent in less than one year, with its newest resource coming online just this month.
The second phase of TEP’s Roadrunner Reserve battery energy storage system started providing service for TEP customers in mid-June. The 200-megawatt (MW) system can store 800 megawatt hours of energy, enough to serve approximately 42,000 homes for four hours when deployed at full capacity. TEP invested about $350 million in this part of the system.
After this expansion of Roadrunner 2, TEP now has 550 MW of battery energy storage capacity serving customers every day. A year ago, the company had 50 MW.
“Our expanded Roadrunner Reserve system represents a significant investment in reliability for our community and shows our commitment to building a cleaner resource portfolio that helps to keep rates stable for our customers,” said Eric Bronner, Vice President of Energy Management, Planning and Development.
Roadrunner Reserve is TEP’s latest addition to a clean energy portfolio that also includes solar and wind systems. Roadrunner’s initial 200-MW phase began serving customers last summer.
TEP charges the storage system in the morning and early afternoon, when solar energy is abundant and costs less to purchase. Stored energy is delivered to customers during late afternoon and evening hours when temperatures and energy use are typically highest. With battery systems, TEP can purchase lower-cost solar earlier in the day and avoid the need to buy higher-cost market power later in the day when demands are higher.
TEP also added 100 MW of battery storage in April, when Wilmot Energy Center II went into service. The system also includes 100 MW of solar generation.
TEP is bringing 260 MW of new solar power resources online this year. Some projects will be owned and operated by TEP, while others will be developed for TEP’s use by third parties.
Babacomari Solar, a 160 MW solar array, is TEP’s largest single solar energy resource. With 296,000 solar panels, the system can produce enough energy to serve the annual electric needs of more than 40,000 homes.
Winchester Solar, an 80 MW solar and 80 MW battery system located near Willcox in Cochise County, is scheduled to be online beginning in early 2027.
As TEP pursues an aspirational goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we will continue to invest in innovative, cost-effective renewable systems that offer benefits for all customers.
To see where our clean energy resources are located, click here.
