US-based renewable energy developer National Renewable Solutions’ (NRS’) 140MWac solar energy and 50MW battery storage Shallow Basket Energy project is now operational.
Shallow Basket is in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. The project provides power for the Jicarilla Apache Nation, municipalities, and electric cooperatives.
Located on land owned by the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the project will benefit the nation through its wholesale power supply agreement with Guzman Energy.
Shallow Basket Energy’s operations were marked with a grand opening event hosted by NRS. Officials from NRS, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Guzman Energy, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC), and other organisations gathered to commemorate the project.
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The project uses Tesla’s Megapack 2XL units. NRL highlights using Tesla’s equipment leverages the US renewable energy supply chain because the units were manufactured in Lathrop, California. That said, Tesla won’t start using US-made lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells in its systems until they start coming off the company’s production line later this year, or until an as-yet unconfirmed supply deal with LG Energy Solution from its Michigan cell plant kicks in in 2027.
Tesla Megapacks and residential Powerwall systems for the North American market are currently being built in Lathrop using cells sourced from third-party suppliers from Asia.
Albuquerque, New Mexico-based Gridworks completed construction of the project.
Following the announcement of project financing in November 2024, NRS successfully refinanced the debt for Shallow Basket Energy with MUFG Bank, Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale, New York Branch, Siemens Financial Services, and Zions Bancorporation, N.A., securing improved terms that NRS says will facilitate the company’s growth.
New Mexico has been a proactive state in terms of BESS development. In 2023, the state’s Senate passed a bill mandating that investor-owned utilities have 2GW/7GWh of energy storage operational by 2034.
Recently, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) approved PNM’s 2028 resource application, which increases solar and storage capacity. It includes 300MW of capacity via energy storage agreements (ESAs) for two 150MW standalone battery facilities and a 150MW solar and battery storage project (100MW solar, 50MW battery), to be owned and operated by PNM.
Jicarilla Apache Nation President Adrian Notsinneh, said of the Shallow Basket project:
“The Shallow Basket Energy Project represents more than just clean power—it’s a powerful step forward in the Jicarilla Apache Nation’s journey toward energy sovereignty and economic self-determination. By hosting this project on our land, we’re honouring our legacy of environmental stewardship while creating opportunities for our people and contributing to a more sustainable future for the region.”
