AzREST, the Arizona Renewable Energy Storage Consortium
The Arizona Renewable Energy and Storage Technology Consortium is aimed at developing knowledge and building a reliable information database for energy storage systems that integrate with renewable energy generation. The program includes connecting new storage technology development from industrial programs and ongoing and planned university research to further expand the technology and facilitate resource planning. Education activity to promote awareness and calls-to-action for key stakeholders both in the renewable energy arena and in policy areas will also be developed. The consortium is headquartered at the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (AzRISE) at the University of Arizona
The goal is to produce and enhance the technical and informational resources in areas such as:
Research, development and demonstration
- Integration of scaled storage with renewable generation;
- Modeling tools to support resource and transmission planning for utilities;
- In situ data and analysis of integrated renewable generation and storage system(s) in proposed demonstration site projects in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. AzRISE is a lead partner in the planning and development of these sites and can play a role coordinating the needs of the consortium with the opportunities offered through the demonstration projects;
- Education of key stakeholders and decision-makers for storage (e.g., government policy, utilities decision-makers, etc.).
Deployment
- Formation of a coordinated state-wide approach to integration of storage technologies in renewable energy generation systems around a common renewable energy and storage project at a site selected by the consortium.
Members of the consortium include:
- APS
- SRP
- TEP
- AEPCO
- SSVEC
- TRICO
- Western Area Power Association (WAPA)
- Southwest Solar Technologies, Inc.
- SunZia
- University of Arizona
- Northern Arizona University
- University of Colorado
- Tom Hansen, consultant
The AzREST Consortium has, in addition, had guests from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as there are key policy impacts with regards to storage that are critical to address.