Renewables developer rPlus Energies has announced start of commercial operations for the 400MW/1,600MWh Green River Energy Centre in Emery County, Utah, US.
Announced 23 June, the project, in addition to the battery energy storage system (BESS), also includes 400MW of solar PV. As reported by our colleagues at PV Tech, the company secured over US$500 million for Green River in 2025.
In 2024, rPlus Energies secured over US$1 billion for Green River, with company president and CEO Luigi Resta saying the project was its debut as an independent power producer (IPP).
Later that year, rPlus Energies broke ground on Green River. The solar PV modules were provided by Elite Solar and the BESS solution by Tesla, while Sundt Construction was responsible for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services.
Try Premium for just $1
- Full premium access for the first month at only $1
- Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
- Expert industry analysis and interviews
- Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
- Exclusive event discounts
Or get the full Premium subscription right away
Or continue reading this article for free
RPlus signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the project with utility PacifiCorp in 2022. The original document was amended in 2024 to quadruple the site’s energy storage capacity from 400MWh,
The companies claim Green River is the largest solar-plus-storage facility in the utility’s six-state service territory.
While power company AES Corporation last year completed construction of the 1,000MW Bellefield 1 project in Kern County, California, part of a larger project including 500MW of solar and 500MW/2,000MWh of battery storage, Kern County is outside of Pacificorp’s California service territory.
The commercial operations announcement also highlights Utah’s Operation Gigawatt, which looks to expand the state’s power production over the next 10 years.
The initiative was introduced in October 2024 by Utah governor Spencer Cox. It calls for expanding energy production through nuclear and geothermal development, increasing transmission capacity, and investing in energy research within the state.
According to rPlus, Green River will generate more than US$55 million in property taxes for schools and public services. During construction, the project employed hundreds of workers, including several local contractors for key components.
Project partners also committed US$375,000 in scholarships for local students, “who plan to build their careers at home while strengthening the region’s long-term workforce in local and energy-related industries.”
During the 22 June commissioning ceremony, other project partners announced that they donated US$45,000 to the Ferron Fire Department, located near the project, in support of local emergency response services and community infrastructure.
Speaking with Energy-Storage.news in 2024, rPlus CEO Luigi Resta said the company had always focused on bringing clean energy resources, including solar, batteries and pumped hydro to rural communities, a background he personally shares.
Resta said that while the developer had deep appreciation for the coal and gas industries that powered Emery County and drove its economy for decades past, renewables could help them diversify their economic base and provide “a continuation of their legacy with energy generation and development.”
