NRS energizes New Mexico hybrid project, adding grid-scale storage capacity

• National Renewable Solutions commissions the Shallow Basket Energy project in New Mexico, pairing 140 MW of solar with 50 MW of battery storage to strengthen the local grid.

US developer National Renewable Solutions (NRS) has brought online the Shallow Basket Energy project in New Mexico, a hybrid plant that combines 140 MW of solar generation with a 50-MW battery energy storage system. The commissioning adds new firm, dispatchable capacity in a state that has emerged as a Southwest renewables hub.

The solar array will supply low-cost daytime electricity, while the co-located battery stores surplus output for evening peaks and grid support services. The battery’s ability to respond within milliseconds allows the project to provide ramping, frequency regulation and capacity support—capabilities that smooth variability and improve the economics of high-renewables grids.

Co-location offers clear operational advantages: a shared interconnection reduces queue risk and capex, and on-site charging minimizes losses between the PV field and the battery. For offtakers, the profile-shaping effect can translate into better hedge value, with clean megawatt-hours available when wholesale prices spike after sunset.

NRS’s approach reflects a broader US trend toward hybridization as utilities and corporate buyers seek renewables that behave more like conventional resources. Key considerations include battery duration sizing, degradation management, and controls that optimize dispatch across ancillary markets and energy arbitrage.

In New Mexico—where policy support and excellent solar resource align—Shallow Basket Energy illustrates how pairing storage with PV can accelerate the retirement of older thermal units without compromising reliability. As more hybrid plants come online, grid operators are refining market rules to fully capture services these assets can deliver.