AMARILLO, Texas — Xcel Energy announced new solar generation and battery energy storage systems are now in service. These facilities are located at Xcel Energy’s Plant X site near Earth, Texas, and at the Cunningham Generating Station near Hobbs, New Mexico.
“This is about making smart, responsible investments on behalf of our customers,” said Brad Baldridge, interim president, Xcel Energy – Texas, New Mexico. “These projects reflect how we plan for the long term, to balance energy resources and deliver reliable service while implementing cost-effective solutions for our customers.”
Solar generation does not require fuel, avoiding the cost of natural gas or other fuels that can rise or fall with market conditions. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) build on that benefit by storing electricity when it is less expensive to produce and deliver it during periods of higher demand. Together, solar and battery storage help support electric reliability, including during peak demand or when renewable generation is limited.
Plant X Solar replaces the former natural gas-fueled Units 1 and 2 at Plant X. It includes 150 megawatts of solar generation and spans approximately 1,200 acres east of the existing Plant X location. The facility connects to the grid through the existing substation via a 115-kilovolt transmission line. In addition, Xcel Energy is currently seeking to add a 150-megawatt surplus battery energy storage system at Plant X. If approved by regulators, the BESS would be operational in 2027.
Cunningham 1 Solar consists of a 72-megawatt solar facility paired with a 36-megawatt surplus BESS and connects through the existing Cunningham thermal interconnection. A second project, Cunningham 2 Solar, will generate 196 megawatts of solar power and is scheduled to come online in April 2027, replacing the gas-fueled Unit 2. When complete, the entire solar development at Cunningham will cover approximately 6,500 acres.
Solar generation facilities at both Plant X and Cunningham Generating Station entered service on April 1.
Tagged with BESS, Xcel Energy