Carrizo Pump Storage Hydropower: Seasonal Storage for Fully Decarbonized Grids

The Carrizo Four Corners Pumped Storage Hydro Center Project will be the largest seasonal duration energy storage facility in the U.S. when completed with 1,500 MW nameplate, 70 hours of duration, and over 103,000 MWh net energy storage capacity. The Project is located entirely on Navajo Nation lands in the Four Corners area and extends across the N.M./AZ border. It will become a key regional resource for the southwest to implement reliable and low-cost highly decarbonized grids. More info of this project can be found at here. 

 

$7.1M FEDERAL FUNDS

$7.1M STATE FUNDS/COST-SHARE

$14.2M TOTAL

Collaborative Institutions and Key Personnel

Leading Institution

New Mexico State University

Principal Investigator

Dr. Fengyu Wang

Participating Institutions

Kinetic Power, LLC; Colorado School of Mines; Columbia University; Baylor University; Argonne National Laboratory; Los Alamos National Laboratory

Upper Reservoir SE midday
Lower Reservoir ENE midday
PSH Design
Lower Reservoir NE midday

Partnership with Navajo Nation

NMSU and the Navajo Nation have cultivated a long-standing partnership rooted in mutual respect, shared goals, and community impact. On August 28, 2024, the project team visited the Office of the President of the Navajo Nation and met with President Dr. Buu Nygren to discuss the Carrizo PSH Project.

The Carrizo project total capital spend projection is $5 billion at Q4-2024 dollars and interest rates. Over 50% of thee capital spending, or approx. $2.5 billion, is local construction spending estimated to provide 673 direct/2,196 total jobs to the local communities during the 5-year construction period. Post-construction, approx. 50 direct/335 total operational jobs are expected to be generated by the plant. In addition, Carrizo’s capabilities will enable construction of very low cost and reliable no-carbon grids, which is expected to be a powerful incremental economic driver by attracting companies seeking those characteristics.


Meeting with President Dr. Buu Nygren — Window Rock, AZ · Aug 28, 2024

Project Description

  • With a 1,500 MW nameplate capacity and 69.3 hours of storage duration, the project will be the largest in the United States.

  • Featuring a 975-meter head height—the second highest in the world—it ranks among the most water- and cost-efficient globally.

  • Working with the Navajo Nation as a single landowner who also possesses all needed water rights significantly reduces Project risks that otherwise are driven by multiple affected stakeholders.

  • Its location in a relatively remote and economically challenged area of the Navajo Nation creates substantial regional benefits.

Brief Project Timeline

  • Year 1

    Stakeholder Engagement, Feasibility Study, and Baseline Model

  • Year 2

    Value Proposition, Benefit Studies, and Stakeholders Buy-in.

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