Renewable technologies

Schools and residential customers are first in line for SRP Community Solar. This new program is designed for our customers who don’t mind paying a little more to help accelerate the growth of solar energy in the region and state.

Eleven school districts will hedge their energy costs by purchasing blocks of solar energy produced at a new 144-acre, 20-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic plant in Florence, southeast of Phoenix. About 2 MW are initially being offered to residential customers, who pay a fixed price for the solar portion of their energy use. SRP is buying 100% of the output of the plant, which was completed and energized this summer.

The first program of its kind in the Valley, Community Solar empowers SRP customers to make an energy choice that reduces carbon emissions while accelerating the expansion of renewable energy resources.

Key programs and initiatives

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP):
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

CSP uses mirrors and a tracking system to focus a large area of sunlight into a small, concentrated beam that provides a heat source for a conventional power generation system.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Purchased CSP generation from the Maricopa Solar plant (MWh): 2,310  

 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to evaluate other CSP opportunities.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Solar PV systems convert sunlight directly into electricity.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP Solar PV generation (MWh): 4,426
  • Customer-owned Solar PV generation (MWh): 26,399
NEXT STEPS

The new 20 MW Copper Crossing PV facility went online in the fall of 2011. SRP continues to evaluate utility scale PV projects.
Wind Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Large turbines capture wind to turn generators and create electricity.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Purchased wind generation (MWh): 259,938 
  • SRP began receiving energy from the 63 megawatt Dry Lake Wind Project on September 4, 2009.
 NEXT STEPS

SRP has signed a power purchase agreement for the 99 MW Yavapai Wind Project due to be online by late 2011 or early 2012.
Hydroelectric Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Also known as hydropower, this involves electricity generated by conversion of energy from flowing or falling water.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP hydroelectric generation capacity (MW): 335  
  • SRP hydroelectric generation (MWh): 200,172  
  • Purchased hydroelectric generation (MWh): 520,974
 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue our commitment to hydroelectric generation - a time-honored core of SRP's power production portfolio.
Low-Impact Hydroelectric Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Hydropower produced using a waterway's natural drop in elevation.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Low-impact hydroelectric generation capacity (MW): 5  
  • SRP low-impact hydroelectric generation (MWh): 8,024
 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to evaluate potential sites on our canal system where low-impact hydroelectric power could be incorporated.
Geothermal Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Heat from within the Earth is used to create steam that powers generating turbines.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Although SRP received no energy from geothermal in FY11, we continue to evaluate opportunities to invest in geothermal resources.

 NEXT STEPS

Construction on the 50 megawatt Hudson Ranch geothermal project commenced in 2010. The facility is expected to start producing energy in 2012.
Biomass Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Electricity is generated from a wood-burning boiler that uses wood-waste material and waste recycled paper fibers as fuel.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Purchased biomass generation (MWh):  24,918  

 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to evaluate opportunities to invest in biomass energy resources.

Landfill Gas Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Landfill gas, such as methane, is used as fuel for generators.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP landfill gas generation capacity (MW):  4
  • SRP landfill gas generation (MWh):  28,154  
  • Purchased landfill gas generation (MWh):  60,082  
NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to operate the Tri-Cities Landfill Energy Facility.  SRP also purchases additional "green" landfill gas which will be used to offset natural gas usage at its generation facilities, or to offset greenhouse gas emissions.
Fuel Cell:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Hydrogen extracted from natural gas is used to produce low-emission generation. This is Arizona's first demonstration of a commercial-scale fuel cell system and is one of only 35 plants of this kind worldwide.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP fuel cell generation capacity (kW): 250
  • SRP fuel cell generation (MWh): 955
NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to operate the fuel cell system and monitor the unit's effectiveness for potential use in additional commercial applications.

Key programs and initiatives

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP):
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

CSP uses mirrors and a tracking system to focus a large area of sunlight into a small, concentrated beam that provides a heat source for a conventional power generation system.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Purchased CSP generation from the Maricopa Solar plant (MWh): 2,310  

 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to evaluate other CSP opportunities.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Solar PV systems convert sunlight directly into electricity.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP Solar PV generation (MWh): 4,426
  • Customer-owned Solar PV generation (MWh): 26,399
NEXT STEPS

The new 20 MW Copper Crossing PV facility went online in the fall of 2011. SRP continues to evaluate utility scale PV projects.
Wind Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Large turbines capture wind to turn generators and create electricity.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Purchased wind generation (MWh): 259,938 
  • SRP began receiving energy from the 63 megawatt Dry Lake Wind Project on September 4, 2009.
 NEXT STEPS

SRP has signed a power purchase agreement for the 99 MW Yavapai Wind Project due to be online by late 2011 or early 2012.
Hydroelectric Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Also known as hydropower, this involves electricity generated by conversion of energy from flowing or falling water.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP hydroelectric generation capacity (MW): 335  
  • SRP hydroelectric generation (MWh): 200,172  
  • Purchased hydroelectric generation (MWh): 520,974
 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue our commitment to hydroelectric generation - a time-honored core of SRP's power production portfolio.
Low-Impact Hydroelectric Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Hydropower produced using a waterway's natural drop in elevation.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • Low-impact hydroelectric generation capacity (MW): 5  
  • SRP low-impact hydroelectric generation (MWh): 8,024
 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to evaluate potential sites on our canal system where low-impact hydroelectric power could be incorporated.
Geothermal Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Heat from within the Earth is used to create steam that powers generating turbines.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Although SRP received no energy from geothermal in FY11, we continue to evaluate opportunities to invest in geothermal resources.

 NEXT STEPS

Construction on the 50 megawatt Hudson Ranch geothermal project commenced in 2010. The facility is expected to start producing energy in 2012.
Biomass Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Electricity is generated from a wood-burning boiler that uses wood-waste material and waste recycled paper fibers as fuel.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Purchased biomass generation (MWh):  24,918  

 NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to evaluate opportunities to invest in biomass energy resources.

Landfill Gas Generation:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Landfill gas, such as methane, is used as fuel for generators.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP landfill gas generation capacity (MW):  4
  • SRP landfill gas generation (MWh):  28,154  
  • Purchased landfill gas generation (MWh):  60,082  
NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to operate the Tri-Cities Landfill Energy Facility.  SRP also purchases additional "green" landfill gas which will be used to offset natural gas usage at its generation facilities, or to offset greenhouse gas emissions.
Fuel Cell:
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Hydrogen extracted from natural gas is used to produce low-emission generation. This is Arizona's first demonstration of a commercial-scale fuel cell system and is one of only 35 plants of this kind worldwide.

 FY11 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • SRP fuel cell generation capacity (kW): 250
  • SRP fuel cell generation (MWh): 955
NEXT STEPS

SRP will continue to operate the fuel cell system and monitor the unit's effectiveness for potential use in additional commercial applications.
Letter from the general manager