Jean Clare Sarmiento/KJZZ

The SRP building in Tempe.

Salt River Project is embarking on a pilot power storage system.

The technology utilizes material which promises to offer approximately six hours longer storage duration than the current lithium-ion batteries it uses. That’s according to Giovanni Damato, president of CMBlu Energy, which has been contracted by the utility.

“Instead of using lithium, we use organic material, which means we are using carbon, which is not reliant on heavy metals or metals from conflict countries," Damato said on a recent episode of PBS’ “Arizona Horizon”. 

Project construction isn’t expected to begin until early 2025, with a goal of getting it operational at the end of that year.