Enel starts work on huge Lily solar + storage project in Texas
Yesterday, Enel Green Power announced
that it had started construction of the Lily solar + storage project, its first
hybrid project in North America that integrates a renewable energy plant with
utility-scale battery storage.
Located southeast of Dallas in
Kaufman County, Texas, the Lily solar + storage project comprises a 146 MWac
photovoltaic (PV) facility paired with a 50 MWac / 75 MWh battery and is
expected to be operational by summer 2021.
Lily’s 421,400 PV bifacial
panels are expected to generate over 367 GWh each year, which will be delivered
to the grid and will charge the co-located battery. The battery storage system
is capable of storing up to 75 MWh at a time to be dispatched when solar power
generation is low, while also providing the grid access to a clean supply of
electricity during periods of high demand.
By pairing the two
technologies, Enel can store energy generated by the renewable plants to be
delivered when needed, such as to help smooth the supply of electricity to the
grid or during periods of high electricity demand. In addition to the Lily
solar + storage project, Enel plans to install approximately 1 GW of battery
storage capacity across its new and existing wind and solar projects in the
United States over the next two years.
Quick Facts about Lily Solar+Storage:
- 421,400 bifacial PV panels; expected to generate over 367 GWh
- 50 MW ac battery capable of storing up to 75 MWh at a time
- Operational (expected) by summer 2021.
“This substantial commitment to
deploy battery storage capacity underscores Enel’s leadership in constructing
innovative hybrid projects that will drive the ongoing decarbonization of the
power sector in the United States and around the world,” said Antonio
Cammisecra, CEO of Enel Green Power. “
The Lily solar plus storage
project highlights the huge potential of renewable energy growth and represents
the future of power generation, which will increasingly be made up by
sustainable, flexible plants that provide zero-carbon electricity while
boosting grid stability.”
The Lily solar project was
initiated and developed by Red River Renewable Energy, LLC, a joint venture
among affiliates of Sun Chase Power and MAP Energy, LLC.
The construction process for
Lily is following Enel Green Power’s Sustainable Construction Site model, according
to the company. Enel said it is exploring a multi-purpose land use model at the
Lily site focused on mutually beneficial agricultural practices in concert with
bifacial solar development and operations. In particular, the company plans to
test growing crops under the panels as well as cultivate groundcover plants
that support pollinators for the benefit of nearby farmland.
Related:
Putting the ‘Farm’ Back in Solar Farms
The company has previously
implemented a similar initiative at the Aurora solar project in Minnesota
through a partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, focused on
pollinator-friendly plants and grasses.
Related:
Enel Kicks Off Construction of 150 MW of Distributed Solar in Minnesota
