Colorado Utility Develops First Large-Scale Battery Storage System

Colorado-based wholesale public power provider Platte River Power Authority announced it is working with Weld Energy Storage, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, to develop the electric utility’s first large-scale battery energy storage project.

Platte River, owned by the towns of Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland, earlier this year signed an agreement for a project capable of storing and discharging up to 400 megawatt-hours of energy.

“We are pleased to partner with NextEra Energy Resources to develop our first large-scale battery energy storage project, Weld Energy Storage, which is one part of our solution to maintain reliability,” said Jason Frisbie, general manager and CEO of Platte River. “NextEra Energy Resources developed the Roundhouse Wind Energy Center, the largest wind project on our system, and it has been incredibly successful since it began commercial operation in 2020. NextEra Energy Resources continues to be essential in helping us with our energy transition.”

Platte River is actively pursuing a 100% non-carbon energy mix while maintaining reliability, environmental responsibility, and financial sustainability for its four owner communities. The new battery project will store up to 100 MW of power that can discharge over four hours and seamlessly integrate with existing renewable energy generation.

The battery project will be next to the utility’s largest solar project located in Severance, Colorado, and connect through Platte River’s newest substation that ties directly onto its transmission system. The battery project will be owned and operated by Weld Energy Storage, which has entered into a long-term energy storage agreement with Platte River beginning in late 2026 when the project becomes operational.

“We are excited to continue working alongside Platte River, a leading utility in the state of Colorado,” said Anthony Pedroni, vice president of development at NextEra Energy Resources, one of the country’s largest energy infrastructure developers. “We thank Platte River for entrusting us with the development of their first battery energy storage project which will deliver important reliability benefits to Platte River’s customers and the state.”

The large-scale battery project is one of three components of Platte River’s solution to maintain reliability as the utility continues to replace coal-fired generation resources with wind and solar energy.

“We’re in the middle of deploying 5 MW of distribution-level energy storage projects in each owner community, building out a virtual power plant and seeking to permit state-of-the-art aeroderivative turbines,” said Frisbie. “Together, these resources are critical to maintaining the reliability and financial sustainability of our renewable energy portfolio.”

Weld Energy Storage is currently in the permitting process and expects to begin construction early next year. NextEra Energy Resources’ subsidiaries currently operate two battery energy storage facilities in Colorado, with a third facility, Jackson Fuller Energy Storage, preparing to come online.

—POWER edited this content, which was contributed by Platte River Power Authority.