By BEX Staff for NEVBEX
NV Energy has issued its 2024 all-source request for proposals for renewable generation, conventional generation and energy storage.
RFP has been created with the purpose of “securing proposals for the acquisition of long-term dispatchable energy and energy storage resources with a minimum size of 20MW together with all associated environmental and renewable energy attributes, as applicable.”
Proposed projects may be located outside of Nevada but must be able to connect directly to NV Energy’s system. NV Energy’s retail service territory is a focus of the RFP.
Interconnection access is a crucial element of proposals due to land constraints for transmission corridors. Proposals must have documentation providing evidence of site control of the gen-tie route/interconnection path to one of NV Energy’s delivery points.
In terms of renewable energy, NV Energy is targeting wind projects to deliver to its Midpoint substation north of Jerome, Idaho. Renewable energy systems can be approved with or without integrated energy storage systems.
The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada will approve projects through a NV IRP Filing. Bids should be submitted through the Asite electronic portal.
NV Energy is also soliciting proposals for its Amargosa Solar and BESS projects through Power Purchase Agreement or Build-Transfer Agreement options. NV Energy is offering current development assets tied to the Amargosa project. Assets include Bureau of Land Management leases of two parcels within the Bureau’s designated Solar Energy Zone in the Amargosa Valley, its interconnection queue position/related studies.
NV Energy intends to evaluate proposals based on potential economic benefit to the state, job opportunities and overall value. The final deadline for bids is Feb. 14, 2025. Submitted projects must include a completed Facilities Study or Large Generator Interconnection Agreement issued by transmission providers (NV Energy/other transmission providers used in projects located out of the company’s service territory).
Integrated Resource Plan
NV Energy filed its integrated resource plan in May of this year. The IRP intends to balance Nevada’s increasing growth with conforming to renewable energy standards while maintaining the ability to provide customers with affordable, reliable and safe energy.
The IRP includes the proposal of three solar and battery power purchase agreements, totaling more than 1,000MW of solar energy and more than 1,000MW of battery storage.
Dry Lake East is a proposed 200MW capacity solar/battery power plant approximately 20 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The battery has a four-hour duration and is anticipated to be in service by the end of 2026.
Boulder Solar III is a proposed 128MW capacity solar/battery power plant. Located within Boulder City, the project’s battery will also have a four-hour duration. The project is expected to be online in the middle of 2027.
Libra Solar, the largest proposal, is to have a 700MW capacity. The project is to be located near the Mineral County/Lyon County border and will have a four-hour duration battery. This project is expected to be in service by the end of 2027.
Regarding natural gas units, plans include a proposal to add approximately 400MW of peaking units powered by natural gas. The units are to be co-located at the North Valmy Generating Station.
With an anticipated completion of summer 2028, the new units are designed to provide northern Nevada with steady power during peak demand times. NV Energy stated natural gas units are low-cost and eco-friendly. In the future, hydrogen fuel may be used for natural gas energy.
