Daybreak Power’s 2.2-Gigawatt Pumped Hydro Project to Utilize Retired Navajo Coal Plant’s Power Lines

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission accepted Daybreak Power Inc.’s application for a preliminary permit for its proposed 2,200 megawatt Navajo Energy Storage Station, Arizona, according to a Jan. 14 notice. The estimated $3.6 billion pumped storage hydro project would utilize transmission infrastructure that was previously used by the retired Navajo Generating Station coal plant.

The pumped storage hydropower facility, Daybreak’s Power’s second storage project, will utilize Lake Powell for its lower reservoir and a new reservoir on a plateau above the lake to create a huge battery. Solar and wind energy will be used to pump water to the upper reservoir and then release through turbines to generate 10 hours of power per day. The generation will supply cities in California, Arizona, and Nevada during peak-demand hours late in the day and during the night.

Daybreak’s first pumped storage project, the proposed 1,540 Next Generation Pumped Storage facility, is designed to use water from Lake Mead and transmission infrastructure near Hoover Dam, Arizona.

Comments, motions to intervene, competing applications, or notices of intent to file competing applications are due within 60 days.