160 MW / 640 MWh Arizona Energy Storage System Announced

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Fluence Energy, Inc. and Torch Clean Energy recently announced the Winchester project, a solar-plus-storage facility in Cochise County, Arizona. Torch Clean Energy is developing the project and Fluence is providing the battery storage technology — the Gridstack Pro 5000. The project delivery date is expected to be early 2027.

The solar power portion of the project has a capacity of 160 MW. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has published the following stat: “The current national average (through Q4 2024) of homes powered by a MW of solar is 168.” So, when there is adequate sunshine, the solar power portion could provide electricity for up to about 26,880 homes. The battery storage will be available for use too.

For a little context, Cochise County has about 125,000 people and is 83 miles east of Tucson.

A Fluence spokesperson answered some questions for CleanTechnica.

What is the capacity of the Winchester Battery Energy Storage System?

160 MW / 640 MWh.

Will it support any solar power, and if so, how much?  

It will be located alongside two 80 MW solar arrays.

What benefits will it provide? 

Once operational, the project will support grid balancing and forecasted load growth for the region as well as support economic development and local infrastructure investment for Cochise County, AZ.

What is the Fluence Gridstack Pro 5000?  

Energy storage optimized for density, deployment speed, performance, and safety.

Are there still IRA incentives available for energy storage projects?

The federal energy storage tax credit provisions within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) recognize the valuable role battery storage plays in supporting grid reliability, U.S. energy security interests, and growth in power demand, as part of an all-of-the-above strategy for energy generation.

The bill leaves in place both the Section 48E Investment Tax Credit (ITC), inclusive of the domestic content bonus credit, for energy storage projects and the Section 45X manufacturing tax credit applicable to domestically produced cells, modules and inverters used in a battery energy storage system (BESS) for many years to come.