Renewable resources are a growing part of AEPCO’s energy mix. By pairing solar and battery storage with our thermal generation fleet, we continue to provide low-cost, reliable power to communities across the Southwest.
A Bright Future for Arizona
As part of its Reliable Energy Plan, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative is partnering with electric cooperatives and public power throughout the Southwest to develop ambitious utility-scale renewable energy projects.
Apache Solar II, located in Cochise, Arizona, represents a bold new phase of expansion at AEPCO’s Apache Generating Station. The project spans more than 1,300 acres and provides 235 MW of Solar and 940 MWh of battery energy storage. These resources complement AEPCO’s existing generation fleet at Apache, and allow Member-utilities to benefit from low-cost power in an increasingly volatile energy market landscape.
Like other large-scale projects, Apache Solar II is significantly more cost-effective than smaller-scale resources. It was developed with the support of AEPCO’s Members to create a substantial renewable power source that can benefit multiple utilities. By collaborating to leverage economies of scale, smaller electric cooperatives and public power utilities can make renewable energy more affordable for everyone.
Apache Solar
AEPCO’s Apache Solar I and Apache Solar II projects, located at Apache Generating Station, provide over 250 megawatts of renewable power to:
Our 6 Class A member cooperatives
Electrical District No. 2, a public power utility in Casa Grande, Arizona
Lincoln County Power District No. 1, a public power utility in Panaca, Nevada
Southwest Public Power Agency, a joint action agency serving communities across Arizona
Apache Solar Fast Facts:
255
Megawatts of solar power
940
Megawatt-hours of battery power
510,000+
solar panels
284
Tesla Megapacks
1,300
acres of AEPCO property house the two projects
Optimizing Hydropower Allocations
- AEPCO optimizes our members’ hydropower allocations from the Hoover Dam. We bring in this low-cost power from the federal Western Area Power Administration on an aggregate basis, dispatching it to members on an on-demand basis and billing them according to use.
- We work with our scheduling and trading partner, ACES, to dispatch Hoover power hourly.
- We also coordinate Hoover power with power from our Apache Solar I. We have the flexibility to quickly cover loads when solar unit output changes rapidly due to cloud cover or other conditions.
Balancing Renewable Sources Leads to Efficiencies
00:00
(Midnight)
Natural gas and coal generation at Apache Station are dispatched around the clock.
06:00
(6 a.m.)
The Apache Solar Projects at Apache Station can generate up to 255 MW of electricity, but only when the sun shines.
18:00
(6 p.m.)
Low cost hydropower from Hoover Dam and energy from our battery storage projects are generally available 24/7, but can only be dispatched in certain conditions.
AEPCO strategically dispatches these resources when they have the most value – often as a complement to solar generation or as a peaking resource to reduce costly market power purchases.
Renewables
Arizona G&T Cooperatives is committed to a sustainable, reliable future for all communities that are served by our Member-utilities. That’s why we prioritize investments in resources that meet the evolving needs of today’s energy landscape. Development of renewable resources is guided by several key principles:
Member-Driven
Cost-Competitive
Reliable
Enduring