Sunrise brief: NV Energy plans to replace a coal plant with 600 MW of solar and 480 MW of storage

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Las Vegas-based NV Energy wants to add two solar plus storage projects, which would total 600 MW of energy and 480 MW of storage. The projects would replace the coal-fired North Valmy Generation Station, located in Winnemucca, Nevada, by 2025. The projects would be developed by Primergy Solar and would provide 16 permanent jobs once they enter service.

Iron Point Solar Project would be a 250 MW solar PV system paired with 200 MWs of battery storage. The project has an expected in-service date of December 2023. And Hot Pot Solar Project would be a 350 MW solar PV system paired with 280 MW of battery storage. The project has an expected in-service date of December 2024.

NV Energy said it also plans to build three grid-tied battery energy storage systems in northern Nevada. These systems would provide 66 MW of energy storage capacity that can be dispatched during times of highest customer demand.

The projects were part of the utility’s Integrated Resource Plan filed with state regulators. The filing also includes new energy efficiency and demand response options for NV Energy’s residential customers. The utility also is proposing a trial program to bring small-scale solar plus storage systems to customers in low-income and underserved communities.

NV Energy said it anticipates a decision on its filing by the end of the year.

Tesla solar roof factory

Tesla is about 25% short of its employment target at its Buffalo factory, and is expanding its focus on jobs not linked to its solar energy business, according to local news reports.

The Buffalo News said that Tesla had 1,058 employees at its factory as of the end of May. It need to have 1,460 jobs there by the end of 2021 or else face a $40 million penalty from the state.

Tesla’s solar roof development – which had been expected to be the main product at the Buffalo factory – is lagging due to installation problems. New York State spent more than $950 million to build and equip the factory, in exchange for a promise from Tesla to create 1,460 jobs there. The paper said that employment at the plant is being increased to support Tesla’s electric vehicle business.

In 2017, Tesla began production of solar cells and modules at the 1.2 million square-foot facility. In 2019, it added new production lines to support electrical components for its Supercharger and energy storage products.

Domestic battery push by DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy announced new policies intended to scale up a domestic manufacturing supply chain for advanced battery materials and technologies.

The efforts follow a review to assesses vulnerabilities and opportunities in the current and forecasted battery supply chain, and identifies policy recommendations to address them.

DOE said that the U.S. relies heavily on importing advanced battery components from abroad, “exposing the nation to supply chain vulnerabilities” that threaten to disrupt the availability and cost of these technologies, as well as the workforce that manufactures them. DOE’s battery supply chain assessment found that the U.S. has less than a 10% global market share for manufacturing capacity across all major battery components and cell fabrication.

The new DOE actions include:

  • Strengthening U.S. manufacturing requirements in federally-funded grants, cooperative agreements, and research and development (R&D) contracts,
  • Releasing a national blueprint to develop a domestic advanced battery supply chain,
  • Providing financing to the advanced battery supply chain for electric vehicles,
  • Procuring stationary battery storage.

In addition, the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and Health and Human Services announced actions to spur domestic supply chains in semiconductors, critical minerals, and pharmaceuticals.

FPL solar plan hits a milestone

Florida Power & Light said it passed the 40% mark in its plan to install 30 million solar panels by 2030. To date, FPL has installed more than 12 million solar panels in Florida. By the end of June, FPL expects to have 42 solar energy centers in Florida with more than 3 GW of capacity.

The utility said the solar sites are expected to save customers around $421 million over the lifetime of the assets. FPL said it expects to have installed more than 15 million panels by early 2022.

Connecticut storage bill is set for signing

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is expected to sign a bill that would set a goal of deploying 1 GW of energy storage by the end of 2030. The bill, SB 952, passed both houses of the state legislature, and sets interim targets of 300 MW of storage by the end of 2024 and 650 MW by the end of 2027.

 

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