Kitt to deliver clean, reliable energy to meet Arizona’s growing power demand, with the capacity to supply electricity to approximately 32,000 homes

EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — December 9, 2024 Today, Avantus announced the signing of a power purchase agreement with Arizona Public Service (APS) for the Kitt Solar Project. This agreement marks another major milestone in Avantus’ presence in Arizona and the continued growth of solar and energy storage in the state. Located in Pinal County, Arizona within the City of Eloy, the Kitt Solar Project features 100 MWac/130 MWdc of solar and 400 MWh of energy storage. Avantus will complete development and start construction of the project in 2025, with operations expected to begin in 2026.

“Avantus' agreement with APS will expand the availability of clean and reliable energy in Arizona and is a testament to our leadership in developing high-quality renewable energy projects,” said Avantus Chief Executive Officer Cliff Graham. “The Kitt Solar Project will not only deliver clean solar energy and offset carbon emissions but will provide much needed energy storage capacity to meet rising demand and create a more resilient grid in Arizona.”

Kitt is expected to create up to 400 construction jobs and generate local tax revenues to benefit local services, such as schools, public safety and infrastructure throughout its operating life. The project has the capacity to serve up to 32,000 Arizona homes while offsetting 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year – the equivalent to taking 45,000 cars off the road.

The combination of solar and energy storage capacity will play an important role in supporting the resiliency of the electric grid in Arizona and ensuring the state can meet peak demand amid extreme heat conditions. In 2024, Arizona saw 113 consecutive days of temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which also broke demand records for electricity – a trend that will likely continue for the foreseeable future.

“Over the next several years, customer peak energy demand in Arizona is expected to grow significantly,” said Derek Seaman, APS Director of Resource Acquisition. “The Kitt Solar Project will add to our growing solar power and energy storage portfolio and provide our customers with additional reliable, cost-competitive and clean electricity.”

Avantus has one of the largest pipelines of solar and energy storage projects in the United States, which includes 30 GW of solar and 94 GWh of energy storage. This agreement builds on Avantus’ momentum in Arizona, following the recent sale of the Catclaw Solar and Energy Storage Project in Maricopa County to D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), which will also deliver energy to APS through a PPA negotiated by Avantus.