WFEC, NextEra Sign PPA for Largest Combined Wind-Solar-Storage Project in US

WFEC has entered into a PPA with NextEra Energy, for the largest combined wind, solar and energy storage project in the US.

Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC) has announced that it has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, for the largest combined wind, solar and energy storage project in the US.

Gary Roulet, chief executive officer for WFEC said that “with the price of wind and solar energy lower than ever, we are now able to pair it with battery storage to make more affordable, renewable energy available to customers for more hours of the day – even when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining.”

The combined wind, solar and energy storage project is the first of its kind announced in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), the electric grid region that includes Oklahoma and 13 other states in the central U.S. covering 546,000 square miles. It is also the largest co-located wind, solar and energy storage project in the U.S.

The project will come online in two phases and will be developed in Garfield, Alfalfa and Major counties in Oklahoma.

Phase-I:

• Skeleton Creek Wind (previously announced) – 250 megawatts (MW) of wind energy, expected to begin operations by the end of 2019

Phase-II:

• Skeleton Creek Solar – 250 MW of solar energy, expected to begin operations by the end of 2023
• Skeleton Creek Storage – 200 MW, 4-hour battery energy storage project, expected to begin operations by the end of 2023

“Pairing renewable energy with battery storage presents a tremendous advantage for Western Farmers and its customers,” said John Ketchum, president and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Resources.

“With this combined facility, we can optimise and maximise the amount of low-cost, emissions-free electricity we provide, while helping Western Farmers diversify its power generation portfolio, reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and set a great example for others to follow.”

The Skeleton Creek projects, once commercial, will help further diversify WFEC’s generation portfolio to consist of 521 MW of solar generation, 955 MW of wind generation and 270 MW of hydroelectric generation. Also, when completed, some 50 percent of WFEC nameplate capacity will include facilities generating electricity by wind, solar or hydroelectric power.