What is the benefit of having battery storage on the grid?

Large scale battery storage systems like the Superstition facility benefit the local electrical grid by providing resiliency and flexibility from a non-emitting capacity resource. Moving toward 100% renewable energy in a region like Arizona’s with exceptional solar resources requires balancing resources like the Superstition facility that can quickly adapt to evolving grid conditions over time. 

How did you choose the project location for Superstition?

The Plus Power team considered a variety of siting criteria, including but not limited to land use designations, archaeological and cultural resources, topography, and proximity to critical utility infrastructure. The Superstition facility location met the optimal criteria across all categories.  

What prompted Plus Power to propose Superstition?

The Superstition facility is ideally situated to provide energy, capacity, and grid services in a region with growing local energy demand and abundant but variable renewable energy resources. 

How long will the batteries last? What will happen to them after that? 

The Superstition facility will have a lifespan of at least 20 years. The original battery systems installed at the site are anticipated to operate for at least 15 years. As the original system naturally degrades, Superstition will be augmented with supplemental battery storage units in the future. At the end of the project’s operating life, the facility will remove the battery system and restore the land to pre-existing conditions. Because the battery components contain valuable minerals, the system will be shipped away for recycling and salvage value. 

Are there environmental, cultural or archaeological features that were disturbed on the Superstition project site? 

Plus Power has built the Superstition facility on a previously disturbed industrial property with no known cultural or archaeological features within its footprint.

What considerations are being taken to ensure the safety of the project? 

Safety is paramount to Plus Power and the Superstition facility. Several measures are being taken to ensure reliable and safe operation of the system. From a technology perspective, the Superstition facility utilizes best-in-class lithium-ion cells based on battery chemistries similar to those used in cell phones, computers, and electric vehicles, although the battery and system will be held to the National Fire Protection Association 855 national standard and other related grid infrastructure codes and standards. In addition, the system utilizes a variety of thermal management systems as well as remote monitoring strategies in order to maintain system stability. The Town of Gilbert Fire and Rescue Department was fully engaged in design discussions as part of the Special Use Permit and Site Plan approvals for the project, and the Plus Power team has engaged in significant collaboration and training with first responders in order to guarantee proper techniques are used in the unlikely event of an emergency. 

Will Superstition be able to withstand a natural disaster? 

The Superstition facility was designed per ASTM standards to ensure foundations and infrastructure are designed in accordance with local requirements. A detention basin is utilized on site to manage stormwater and drainage. 

Will the Superstition facility impact my views? 

The Superstition facility is ideally situated in an industrially zoned area, away from residential areas. The project is screened from the street and surrounding industry by a masonry wall, per local planner recommendations. As such, the impact to local views is very limited.