{"id":33093,"date":"2022-10-06T11:50:13","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T15:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=33093"},"modified":"2022-10-06T11:50:13","modified_gmt":"2022-10-06T15:50:13","slug":"first-clean-energy-plant-opens-using-solar-wind-battery-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=33093","title":{"rendered":"The first ‘utility scale’ renewable energy plant combining solar and wind generation with battery storage opens in the US"},"content":{"rendered":"

A utility-scale renewable energy<\/a> plant using wind and solar combined with battery storage opened last week, a US first, with the potential of powering 100,000 homes with clean, reliable energy. The project gives us a glimpse into the future as the US shifts from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. <\/p>\n

The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is the first utility-scale development in North America to implement wind and solar generation with battery storage. <\/p>\n

Until the Inflation Reduction Act<\/a> was passed in August, energy storage projects were only eligible for tax incentives if they were exclusively based on solar energy. However, the IRA bill opens up new possibilities by providing incentives for mixed (wind<\/a> and solar<\/a>) and standalone battery storage projects. <\/p>\n

As a result, more projects like the Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility will likely be in the works. The combination of wind and solar energy can improve reliability, adding value to the grid.<\/p>\n

The renewable energy plant is made possible through a partnership between NextEra Energy Resources and Portland General Electric<\/a>. NextEra purchased the development rights to a wind farm and expanded upon it with the help of PGE, adding solar capability and battery storage. <\/p>\n

Rebecca Kujawa, CEO of Nextera Energy<\/a>, talks about the benefits of combining renewable energy sources, stating:<\/p>\n

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Bringing wind, solar and energy storage together at one site is quite a significant moment for renewable technologies. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Kujawa adds:<\/p>\n

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These facilities generate low-cost, homegrown energy and will provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to\u00a0Morrow County\u00a0over the life of the project.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The facility opened last week in Morrow County, Oregon, and is the first of its scale, according to the companies. <\/p>\n

\"Wheatridge-wind-solar-battery-storage-plant-1\"
Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facilities\/Source: PGE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Details of the solar, wind, and battery storage project in Oregon<\/h2>\n

The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Project is an example of how combining renewable energy sources (solar and wind) with battery storage can help provide reliable, sustainable energy as utility companies look to cut back on carbon emissions. <\/p>\n

The renewable energy plant includes:<\/p>\n