SRP & CMBlu Energy Launch Pioneering Long-Duration Solar Storage in Arizona
SRP and CMBlu Energy have joined forces for a pioneering long-duration energy storage project in Phoenix, Arizona. The Desert Blume pilot, set to begin construction in early 2025, will store solar energy during the day and supply it to the grid at night, powering around 1,125 homes for 10 hours.
CMBlu will build, own, and operate the batteries at SRP's Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center in Florence, Arizona. The project, part of the third phase of development at the center, follows previous additions of flexible natural gas turbines and a solar generation facility. Jim Pratt, CEO of SRP, sees this project as a way to supplement SRP's power system for longer periods, especially during high demand.
The 5-MW, 10-hour duration project, Desert Blume, will use CMBlu's Organic SolidFlow non-lithium technology. This innovative system offers high energy density, non-flammability, full recyclability, and no rare metals, storing energy for 2-3 times longer per cycle than traditional lithium-ion technology. EPRI will monitor and validate the real-world performance of this technology in Arizona's hot and dry climate. Ben Kaun, President of CMBlu Energy's US division, considers Desert Blume critical for validating Organic SolidFlow batteries at scale in the US. Kaun, previously the former President of the US division of CMBlu Energy, now serves as Chief Commercial Officer at Inlyte Energy.
The Desert Blume project, expected to go operational in December 2025, marks a significant step in Arizona's energy storage landscape. It aims to harness the energy of the sun more efficiently, providing clean energy to homes even after the sun sets. This collaboration between SRP and CMBlu Energy paves the way for more sustainable and reliable energy solutions in the region.
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