Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) is kicking off construction of the 400MWh Weld Energy Storage project in Colorado. The project is the first for the wholesale power provider for Fort Collins and three other communities. Furthermore, the project will be the utility’s first utility-scale battery project. It is part of its efforts to go as far as it believes it can to rely on all-non carbon energy sources.
Construction is set to commence in May and a groundbreaking ceremony set to happen on June 4. This is according to information presented during the April 30 board meeting. Once complete, the system will be able to store 400 megawatt hours of power.
Moreover, it will allow PRPA to charge the battery when renewable energy is abundant and prices are low and use it later. NextEra Energy Resources will build and own the project, which will be located at the Severance substation, right next to the Black Hollow Sun solar project. Solar and battery storage projects are becoming fundamental with states making more investments to advance renewable energy.
For instance, The Eland Solar-plus-Storage Center in Los Angeles, California — developed by Arevon — became operational 10 months ago. With 758MW of solar photovoltaic capacity and a 1,200MWh battery energy storage system, the $2 billion mega-project represents a major leap toward LA’s clean energy goals.
Other Energy Projects by PRPA other than Weld Energy Storage Project in Colorado
Other than the Weld Energy Storage project in Colorado, PRPA is focused on construction of five aeroderivative gas turbines. The utility says the turbines are needed to provide dispatchable capacity that can be fired up when renewable sources like wind and solar are not meeting the demand. However, the move has drawn criticism from environmental advocates.
They note that the $623 million investment could become a stranded asset that ratepayers will have to fund even if they are cleaner alternatives available after it is built. However, PRPA notes the technology is actually what enables it to pursue renewables more aggressively. It notes it is because it provides a way to fill the gaps when renewables are not meeting demand. The state construction permit, another step in the process to complete the project, was issued April 15.
The state utility has already been granted a 1041 permit from Larimer County. The turbines are expected to be up and running before the scheduled closure of the Rawhide 1 coal unit in December 2029. However, there will be a 180-day period where the coal plant will be allowed to operate at the same time as the new turbines while they are being tested. Once the turbines are cleared for commercial dispatch, Rawhide 1 will close.
Project Factsheet
- Project Name: Weld Energy Storage Project
- Location: Platte River region, Colorado, USA (Severance Substation)
- Estimated Investment Value: Not disclosed
- Project Type: Utility-scale battery energy storage system
Timeline
- April 2026: Key permits secured and approvals completed
- May 2026: Construction commencement
- June 4, 2026: Groundbreaking ceremony scheduled
- Completion: Not officially disclosed
Site & Scale
- Storage Capacity: 400 MWh
- Project Type: Battery energy storage system (BESS)
- Location Detail: Adjacent to Black Hollow solar project
- Primary Use: Store excess renewable energy and dispatch when needed
Project Teams
- Utility / Offtaker: Platte River Power Authority (PRPA)
- Developer / Owner / Builder: NextEra Energy Resources
Infrastructure Scope
- 400MWh battery storage installation
- Integration with nearby solar generation (Black Hollow Solar Project)
- Connection to Severance substation
- Grid support systems for load balancing and dispatch
Strategic Objectives
- Support transition to non-carbon energy sources
- Improve grid reliability and flexibility
- Store excess renewable energy during low demand periods
- Reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaking generation
- Enable higher penetration of wind and solar energy
Challenges
- Intermittency of renewable energy sources
- Dependence on complementary systems like gas turbines
- Criticism over parallel investment in gas infrastructure
- Uncertain long-term cost dynamics of storage vs alternatives
Current Status
- State construction permit issued (April 15, 2026)
- 1041 permit granted by Larimer County
- Construction set to begin with groundbreaking in June
- Marks PRPA’s first utility-scale battery storage project
