Arizona's TEP plans RfP for 550 MW of renewables, firm capacity

Arizona utility Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is seeking to add up to 250 MW of renewables and energy efficiency and 300 MW of firm capacity to its network, it said on Wednesday.

The company will realise the plan by launching an all-source request for proposals (RfP) on April 19. Proposals will be due by July 1, while winners will be announced near the end of 2022.

The competitive round will be open for wind, solar and energy efficiency projects, including demand response, with a combined capacity of up to 250 MW. Up to 300 MW of the targeted capacity is set aside for firm capacity resources such as battery storage with at least four hours of storage capacity daily.

Projects with combined technologies will be also eligible to compete. The contracted capacity has to go into service in the period May 1, 2024 to May 1, 2025.

The RfP will be held to support TEP’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), under which the utility aims to cut its carbon emissions by 80% and secure 70% of its power supply with power from wind and solar resources by 2035. The utility also plans to retire coal-fired power plants and replace them with renewable and natural gas-fired capacity.

Last year, TEP added 449 MW of wind and solar resources to its portfolio and achieved a 30% share of renewables.

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