Alliant Energy will acquire 200 MW of solar energy and 75 MW of battery energy storage from Phase I and II of the Duane Arnold Solar Project, currently under development by NextEra Energy resources.
The project, expected to be operational in 2024, includes the construction of photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays capable of generating up to 200 MW of energy and a 75 MW, 4-hour battery energy storage facility. Located in Linn County, the Duane Arnold Solar Project will repurpose a portion of the land and infrastructure at the former Duane Arnold nuclear energy facility. The existing transmission infrastructure already on the site is expected to be used. Once operational, Alliant Energy will own and operate both projects.
“We are very pleased to continue working with Alliant Energy and the community of Linn County, which we have been fortunate to serve for the past 15 years with the Duane Arnold Energy Center,” said Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources. “Duane Arnold Solar is an innovative project that pairs cost-effective, clean, renewable energy from the sun with battery energy storage technology — providing customers with more access to renewable energy over more hours of the day, even when the sun is not shining.”
“Alliant Energy and NextEra Energy Resources have a long history of collaborating to provide carbon-free sources of energy and energy generation to customers,” said Terry Kouba, president of Alliant Energy’s Iowa energy company. “These plans put us on course for achieving our aspirational goal of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions for the electricity we generate by 2050. Our customers, the local community, and the environment will benefit from this solar and battery storage facility for decades to come.”
Alliant Energy expects to outline plans for an additional 200 MW of solar generation in Iowa at a future date. Once all the new projects are operational, combined with Alliant Energy’s existing 1300 MW of wind generation in Iowa, nearly 50% of the company’s total resource mix in the state will be from renewable resources.
