/ Modified apr 29, 2015 5:33 a.m.

Tucson Electric Power Seeks Bids For Energy Storage Facility

Move is trial to see if the utility can further use renewable energy.

Rooftop Solar A 25-panel rooftop solar power array.
Yoohyun Jung

Listen:

Tucson Electric Power is currently accepting bids for its first energy storage facility.

The facility would store 10 megawatts of electricity. That stored could allow the company to have a supply ready for times when renewable energy sources are not producing, such as at night or on cloudy days.

“This would be a first of its kind project for Tucson Electric Power," said TEP's Joseph Barrios. "Certainly we have a number of different photovoltaic systems, but an energy storage system is something that would be new and different for us.”

The facility is meant to act as a trial for TEP, allowing the company to determine if energy storage technology is a feasible way to expand its use of renewable energy while overcoming times when renewables are not producing.

TEP's current renewable energy capacity is around 330 megawatts, or enough to power about 70,000 houses.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona