SRP and Invenergy Launch First-Ever Partnership To Add 200 MW Solar And 200 MW Battery Storage In Arizona’s SunDog Energy Center

Salt River Project, a not-for-profit public power utility serving the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, and Invenergy, North America’s largest privately held independent power producer and energy infrastructure developer, have announced a new agreement to add 200 megawatts of solar power and 200 megawatts of 4-hour battery storage to the region’s electricity system. This marks the first time the two organizations are partnering on a project.

The new development, known as the SunDog Energy Center, will be located in Pinal County and will provide enough capacity to power up to 45,000 homes in the Valley. The project supports SRP’s goal of more than doubling the capacity of its overall power system over the next decade to keep up with rapidly growing energy demand in the Phoenix area. Invenergy’s diverse range of energy technologies will play an important role in helping Arizona meet that demand.

Bobby Olsen, SRP’s Associate General Manager and Chief Power System Executive, explained that adding both solar and battery storage is a key part of SRP’s broader strategy to meet customers’ increasing energy needs with power that is reliable, affordable and sustainable. He noted that the utility is looking forward to working closely with Invenergy to deliver the benefits of the SunDog Energy Center to the community.

SRP currently has more than 3,000 megawatts of carbon-free resources serving its customers. This includes 1,455 megawatts of solar power and over 1,100 megawatts of battery storage that support its grid. The utility also has several additional solar and storage projects under development, reflecting its long-term commitment to clean energy.

Ted Romaine, Invenergy’s Executive Vice President for Origination, stated that SRP was very clear from the beginning about the type of energy solutions it needed to serve its customers. He explained that Invenergy is able to deliver the right mix of technologies as the region prepares for continued growth. As energy demand rises in Arizona and nationwide, he said that hybrid projects like SunDog strengthen the grid and ensure customers receive dependable and affordable energy.

SunDog will become Invenergy’s 17th facility in Arizona and its first operating project in Pinal County. Beyond supporting the grid, the project is expected to create strong economic benefits for the region. Over its lifetime, it is projected to generate more than $209 million through local tax revenue, land costs and lease payments. At the height of construction, the project will create between 200 and 400 jobs.

Invenergy has been actively involved in the Pinal County community since 2018, contributing to local organizations and initiatives such as the United Way of Pinal County, Pinal Partnership and the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Across Arizona, Invenergy’s operational and under-construction projects currently total 545 megawatts of solar power and 736 megawatts of energy storage—supporting reliable electricity for residents while contributing more than $2.2 million annually to local communities.

Invenergy is recognized as North America’s largest privately held developer, owner and operator of large-scale power infrastructure. With 25 years of experience, the company provides advanced and scalable energy solutions across natural gas, solar, wind, energy storage, transmission and domestic manufacturing. Headquartered in Chicago, it has developed more than 220 projects worldwide, totaling over 36 gigawatts, and currently operates more than 20 gigawatts of energy infrastructure across four continents.

SRP, meanwhile, is the largest electricity provider in the greater Phoenix area, supplying power to more than 2 million customers. As a community-based, not-for-profit utility, it also manages vital water resources for the region. SRP supplies over 244 billion gallons of water each year and oversees a 13,000-square-mile watershed that includes reservoirs, wells, canals and an extensive irrigation system. Together, SRP and Invenergy aim to support Arizona’s rapidly growing energy needs while contributing to a more reliable and sustainable energy future for the state.