Strata Clean Energy, a developer and service provider for utility-scale solar and storage systems, announced it broke ground on Scatter Wash, its 255 MW / 1,020 MWh battery storage complex in Phoenix, Arizona.
The facility is expected to become operational in April 2025, and is meant to provide Arizona Public Service (APS) customers with energy, support increased power demand, and store renewable energy from solar power plants on its grid to use when it is needed, particularly in the summertime when extreme heat and electricity demand is high in Arizona.
Tesla’s Megapack 2XL, a fully integrated battery system featuring advanced battery technology, software, and power conversion systems, will be used throughout the project.
“Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the country and reliable and affordable power is critical for APS customers, especially during our hottest summer days,” said Jacob Tetlow, Executive Vice President of Operations at APS. “These batteries will help us continue to serve our customers with a balanced and diverse power supply.”
Strata entered into a 20-year tolling agreement with APS for its Scatter Wash battery storage complex last year. This award resulted from the All-Source RFP APS conducted in May of 2022, which was initiated to meet the growing needs of residential and business customers with affordable, reliable, and clean electricity. Under the terms of the agreement, Strata will build, own, and operate the Scatter Wash battery storage complex as part of the firm’s growing portfolio of clean-energy assets.
The development of Scatter Wash is supported by the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for standalone energy storage created by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. Last year, Strata was one of the first to take advantage of the tax incentive for energy storage for two projects in Vermont.
Strata has over 270 solar and storage projects completed, the company said, and it has been involved in the development and construction of 3,000 MW of solar energy and 3,200 MWh of utility-scale energy storage. Its current development pipeline has 8,400 MW of solar capacity and 31,800 MWh of storage.
