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Weld County Battery Storage project

Platte River’s first utility
scale battery storage project

Platte River Power Authority is partnering with NextEra Energy Resources to develop Weld Energy Storage, the utility’s first large scale battery energy storage project. Located in Weld County near Black Hollow Sun, Platte River’s largest solar facility, this project will play a critical role in maintaining reliability as Platte River transitions to a renewable dominant energy portfolio.

The project will store renewable energy when production is high and discharge it when energy is needed most, supporting customers during peak demand periods, extreme weather events and times when wind and solar generation are limited.

Contact

E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (970) 226.4000

Project overview

  • Technology is lithium-ion phosphate and will charge using excess grid power
  • Will store up to 100 MW of power that can discharge over four hours
  • Located next to the Black Hollow Sun site and the Severance Substation
  • The project will be developed and operated by NextEra Energy
  • The energy service agreement duration is 20 years with a 15 year renewal option

Project timeline

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2024 – 2025

Project development, permitting
and engineering

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Early 2026

Construction begins

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Late 2026

Battery becomes operational and
integrated into Platte River’s system

To learn more about battery storage and NextEra Energy, visit NextEra Energy Resources | Weld Energy Storage | FAQ

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Frequently asked questions

We do not expect any lane closures during the substation’s construction. There will be some road construction for a private access road about a half mile north of the intersection of Weld County Road 84 and Weld County Road 23.

Staged equipment you may see during construction is steel, rebar, construction equipment and electrical infrastructure.

Typical hours of construction will be Monday – Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change). You can expect general construction activity noises during that time.

Public outreach for the Black Hollow Solar project began in 2021, led by the solar project owners at the time, 174 Power Global. A neighborhood meeting and virtual public meeting were held in May 2021. Landowners within a half to one mile distance were approached by Black Hollow Solar advisors and invited to community and public meetings. A letter and postcard were also mailed to neighbors.

Platte River issued a press release when the project was proposed in May 2021. Several local newspapers published articles from this release, including the Fort Collins Coloradoan and Greeley Tribune. Governor Polis also issued a statement on the project announcement.

The Black Hollow Sun project, owned by Q-Cells, began site work in early 2024. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Accessibility notice:
Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Platte River Power Authority will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with a disability who need assistance. Please email us at [email protected] or call 970-226-4000. “Walk-in” requests for auxiliary aids and services may be honored to the extent possible but can be unavailable if advance notice is not provided.

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