Posted with permission from ESG Impact Zone.

Renewable energy developer Longroad Energy announced Wednesday it has begun construction of a solar-plus-storage project in Arizona.

The 285 MWdc PV and 215 MWac/860 MWh system is expected to begin commercial operations in 2024 and will be the largest solar and storage project for Longroad, it said. Output from the project in Maricopa County will be enough to power 90,000 homes.

“We are pleased to have achieved the key milestones of financial close and commencement of construction on Sun Streams 3, the latest phase of our flagship solar-plus-storage complex located at one of the most significant power hubs in the western U.S.,” CEO Paul Gaynor said.

Arizona is an important growth market and Longroad currently has a 4 GW operating and development portfolio in the state, the company said. Tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act will spur more development in Arizona, Longroad said.

The project interconnects with the grid at the Hassayampa switchyard, a transmission hub in the western U.S. Output from Sun Streams 3, which Longroad said will enhance electrical capacity and system reliability in Arizona, will be purchased by Arizona Public Service in a long-term power purchase agreement.

The energy generated by the project will help APS transition to a carbon-free resource mix by 2050, said Justin Joiner, APS vice president of resource management.

The battery energy storage system will be delivered by Powin, an energy storage platform provider. The BESS will include SMA solar inverters and cells that will be integrated into Powin’s modular and scalable energy segment.

Longroad, working with Powin and NovaSource, will provide long-term operations and maintenance services.

Longroad acquired Sun Streams 3 from First Solar in early 2021 in a transaction that included several projects in Arizona, including the 200 MWdc Sun Streams 2 solar project that has been running since 2021 and additional projects still in development.