Greensmith Energy, the leader in energy storage software and integration services, announced it will partner with E.ON Climate and Renewables and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to design and deliver a grid-scale energy storage system located at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park southeast of Tucson. The 10MW site will provide frequency response and voltage control in addition to solar integration for a new 2 MW array.
Greensmith will provide design, installation and commissioning services, along with its industry-leading GEMS software control platform. GEMS is the most widely-deployed energy storage software solution—enabling utilities, EPCs and IPPs to maximize energy storage ROI and manage an individual system or a fleet of energy storage systems.
"We are excited to combine our utility storage expertise with Greensmith’s deep industry knowledge and technology for TEP," said Mark Frigo, E.ON's VP of Energy Storage North America. "TEP is the perfect partner for this project as they are an experienced utility operator and very interested in integrating innovative, cost-effective technologies for the benefit of their customers."
Arizona's Renewable Energy Standard (RES) requires regulated electric utilities to increase their use of renewable power each year until it accounts for 15 percent by 2025. E.ON and TEP are taking crucial steps to create a more stable, reliable and flexible grid as demonstrated by this 10 MW project.
"We're working very hard to build a more resilient grid in a cost-effective way for our customers, and exploring energy storage technologies is an important aspect of our efforts. E.ON provides both innovative technologies and a wealth of expertise that will help us to achieve our long-term renewable energy and resource planning goals," said Carmine Tilghman, a TEP Senior Director who oversees the company's renewable energy programs.
“Our growing partnership with E.ON to support the energy storage needs of leading utilities such as TEP reflects why we’ve worked so hard over the past 8 years to build the most advanced energy storage technologies and experience available today,” said John Jung, President and CEO of Greensmith Energy. “With over 3 GWs of solar and wind generation already installed in the U.S., E.ON is committed to transforming our 20th century electric grid, so naturally, we are honored to be a part of that technology vision.”
The site will provide TEP with ancillary services and is slated to go online in the first half of 2017.