SRP Launches 55 MW Desert 'Living Lab' Solar Project Near Florence

New solar array and storage testbed aims to identify most resilient equipment for Arizona's harsh climate.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:13pm

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A bold, abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals in earthy tones of ochre, terracotta, and desert sage, conceptually representing the complex renewable energy systems being tested at SRP's Copper Crossing facility.SRP's new 'living lab' solar and storage testbed in the Arizona desert aims to identify the most resilient and cost-effective renewable energy technologies for the region.Florence Today

Salt River Project (SRP) has commissioned a new 55-megawatt solar array at the Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center near Florence, Arizona. The utility is billing the project as a "living lab" to test various photovoltaic modules, inverter technologies, and tracking systems under the region's extreme desert conditions, as well as pilot long-duration energy storage solutions.

Why it matters

As SRP works to double its generation capacity and pursue net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the data and insights from the Copper Crossing project will help the utility make informed decisions about future solar and storage investments to meet growing customer demand, especially during peak summer months.

The details

The Copper Crossing PV Solar Project spans 270 acres and incorporates three different PV module types, three inverter technologies, and three tracking systems installed side-by-side to compare their durability and energy output under identical conditions. The array is connected to SRP's Abel Substation to streamline grid integration, and operators are using sky-facing cameras to improve production forecasting by monitoring cloud cover. In addition to the solar testbed, SRP has plans to pilot long-duration storage technologies at the site, including a 5 MW, 50 MWh iron-flow system and an organic flow battery system.

  • The Copper Crossing PV Solar Project is now operational and serving SRP customers.
  • SRP plans to deploy the long-duration storage pilots by late 2027.

The players

Salt River Project (SRP)

A public power utility that provides electricity and water to the Phoenix metropolitan area and central Arizona. SRP commissioned the Copper Crossing project as part of its efforts to double generation capacity and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Bobby Olsen

SRP Associate General Manager, who stated that the Copper Crossing facility will help support customer needs for reliable, affordable energy.

ESS

A company that is partnering with SRP to deploy a 5 MW, 50 MWh iron-flow energy storage system at the Copper Crossing site.

CMBlu Energy

A company that is partnering with SRP to pilot its "Desert Blume" organic flow battery technology at the Copper Crossing site.

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What they’re saying

“This facility gives us the opportunity to support customer needs for reliable, affordable energy.”

— Bobby Olsen, SRP Associate General Manager

What’s next

SRP plans to layer in flexible natural gas, advanced solar, and additional long-duration storage technologies at the Copper Crossing site over time, with the goal of identifying the most resilient and cost-effective energy mix to meet growing customer demand, especially during peak summer months.

The takeaway

By establishing the Copper Crossing 'living lab' in the Arizona desert, SRP is taking a proactive approach to testing and validating the performance of various solar and storage technologies under extreme climate conditions. The insights gained from this project will help the utility make informed decisions about its future energy investments as it works to double generation capacity and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.