Beehive BESS expects to start construction in 2025, and will consist of lithium-ion battery enclosures, inverters, transformers, and substation. The facility, designed to receive energy from the power grid when renewable penetration is high, will store the electricity in a series of batteries until electrical power is needed by the grid at peak hours, at which time the energy is released back into the power grid for consumption to help manage APS’s growing energy and capacity demand.
Beehive is expected to reach commercial operational in 2026 with 1,000 MWh of total energy output. The project represents EDF Renewables’ second stand-alone storage project demonstrating commitment to innovation and expansion of its expertise in BESS technology.
“EDF Renewables recognizes the essential role of storage technologies for utilities like APS in facilitating the broader deployment of utility-scale renewables,” said Dai Owen, Senior Vice President, Origination and Power Marketing for EDF Renewables. “As a complementary market to our core renewable generation business, storage has become increasingly significant. By adding Beehive to APS’s already diverse power supply, it will be better equipped to provide reliable, affordable and cleaner energy to its customers, even in the absence of sunlight.”
Brian Cole, APS Vice President of Resource Management, commented, “We are incorporating a range of technologies and innovations as part of APS’s balanced energy mix to maintain reliability and affordability on the path to a cleaner energy future for our customers. Storage systems, including the Beehive project, give greater flexibility in meeting customer’s energy needs, enabling us to continue integrating variable sources, like solar, into the energy grid.”
