Continued development of Copper Crossing
The continued development will complement the existing solar generation at the site and is expected to feature generating resources needed to support and enable SRP’s transition to a lower carbon resource portfolio.
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About the Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center
SRP is continuing its Board-approved development of the Copper Crossing site. This development will take place on the land owned by SRP adjacent to the existing Abel Substation on West Judd Road and the Copper Crossing Solar Ranch on West Bella Vista Road in Florence, Arizona, to create the “Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center.”
The continued development will complement the existing solar generation at the site and is expected to feature generating resources needed to support and enable SRP’s transition to a lower carbon resource portfolio, including advanced solar technology, two flexible natural gas turbines with a total output of less than 99 megawatts (MW), and small-scale long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies, to be developed in phases over the next few years. Additional phases of development of the site may be proposed at a later date and would continue to explore various resources such as solar, storage, additional flexible natural gas turbines, or other resources SRP may need that best fit its system needs and requirements as we transition to a more sustainable resource mix.
Presentation on Copper Crossing
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Phase I project information: Flexible natural gas generation
On Sept. 12, the SRP Board approved the first phase of continued development at the Copper Crossing site located on land owned by SRP adjacent to the existing Abel Substation on West Judd Road and the Copper Crossing Solar Ranch on West Bella Vista Road in Florence, Arizona.
Phase 1 consists of the engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and startup of approximately 99 MW of new flexible gas generation, which is planned to be online by the summer of 2024. There will be two LM6000 combustion turbines installed at the new site along with the balance of plant equipment. In addition to the generating facility, there will also be a new 69-kilovolt substation constructed adjacent to the existing SRP Abel Substation, which will include infrastructure needed to tie in phases 1, 2 and 3 to SRP’s grid via Abel Substation.
General construction activities for Phase 1 began in November 2022.
Phase I construction
Phase 1 of site development consists of installing two flexible natural gas turbines with a total output of less than 99 megawatts MW and facilities needed to interconnect the turbines to the power grid.
Wellsite construction is expected to start in late summer of 2023.
Equipment deliveries are expected to continue throughout spring of 2024.
Construction of the transmission lines will start in late 2023.
Construction activities will continue on-site through early summer of 2024.
Air permit application
The 30-day public comment period for the air permit application began on Jan. 26, 2023. A virtual public hearing was held on Feb. 27, 2023. The Pinal County Air Quality District issued an air quality permit on May 4, 2023.
Phase II project information: Advanced solar generation
On Dec. 5, the SRP Board approved Phase 2 Advanced Solar Generation at Copper Crossing. This development will take place on the land owned by SRP adjacent to the existing Abel Substation on West Judd Road and the existing Copper Crossing Solar Ranch on West Bella Vista Road in Florence, Arizona, to create the Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center.
The Phase 2 Solar Generation project will consist of photovoltaic solar arrays capable of generating up to 55 MW. The Phase 2 Solar Generation will be located west of Attaway Road at the Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center and cover approximately 270 acres. SRP will develop, own and operate the facility and implement advanced solar array technology that will provide improved efficiency and performance. The proposed project will provide carbon-free energy supporting SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goals.
The Phase 2 project is currently under design and construction activities are anticipated to start in summer of 2024.
Phase III project information: Long-duration energy storage pilots
Phase 3 will include the installation of long-duration energy storage (LDES) pilot projects to test energy storage alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries that may store up to 10 hours of energy. These types of small test pilots will help SRP understand how new technologies will perform in our hot environment and evaluate whether it makes sense to consider larger-scale projects in the future. Longer-duration energy storage technologies can help ensure grid reliability and enable additional renewable energy on the system in support of SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goals.
Contact us
If you have questions about the project, call (602) 236-2872(602) 236-2872 or email 2872line@srpnet.com.
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