Ameren Missouri updates 20-year road map to support reliable, cost-effective energy
The company's Integrated Resource Plan provides a long-term, cost-effective road map to meet customer needs and maintain reliability through disciplined planning and investment.
Reliable energy service depends on decisions made years before the energy is needed. Through its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), Ameren Missouri outlines a 20-year energy road map for maintaining reliable service and managing costs under a range of customer usage scenarios.
The IRP reflects several long-term considerations, including forecasted customer energy needs, economic growth, available energy resource technologies and associated costs.
To learn more about Ameren Missouri's updated IRP, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/Reliable.
"Our customers depend on us to make thoughtful decisions about the energy system that powers their homes, businesses and communities," said Martin J. Lyons Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Ameren Corporation. "This plan provides a clear path for maintaining reliability, supporting the communities we serve by making the most of existing resources while prudently investing in a mix of additional generation technologies to cost-effectively power the future needs of our customers."
The plan maintains a balanced mix of generation resources, combining existing assets with planned additions to ensure continued reliability. Multiple scenarios were evaluated to help ensure the resource portfolio remains reliable under a range of future conditions.
As part of the IRP, Ameren Missouri identified a portfolio of generation resources intended to support reliability and customer needs in the years ahead. The preferred plan was selected from more than 20 potential plans and includes resource additions along with other investments intended to strengthen the energy system and maintain flexibility as future conditions evolve.
IRP highlights include:
Continuing to strengthen reliability through around-the-clock combined-cycle natural gas generation resources, with 2,100 megawatts (MW) scheduled to be in service by 2031, another 2,800 MW by 2035 and a further 1,400 MW by 2042.
Building 1,900 MW of on-demand simple-cycle natural gas generation resources by 2029, with an additional 2,400 MW after 2040.
Adding 500 MW of natural gas fuel cells by 2030, a promising and scalable technology that can deliver reliable, on-demand energy at any time of day.
Supplementing those on-demand generation resources with 1,300 MW of new solar generation resources by 2030 and an additional 2,300 MW by 2045.
Accelerating and expanding the addition of battery storage, with 2,400 MW planned by 2030, to keep energy available when energy needs are high and customers need it most.
Planning for 1,200 MW of new nuclear generation by 2040. Ameren Missouri continues to expect to seek an extension to operate the Callaway Energy Center beyond 2044.
"Reliable service is built on a mix of energy resources that can be called upon under different conditions," said Aaron Melda, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri. "Because no single technology can meet every customer's energy needs on its own, the IRP evaluates how resources can work together to maintain reliability, adapt as customer energy use evolves and manage costs over time."
Ameren Missouri has committed to serving 2.8 gigawatts of aggregate large-load demand by 2030 through signed electric service agreements, with the potential for additional growth. State law and the company's Powering Missouri Growth Plan include provisions to ensure these customers cover the costs of the infrastructure needed to serve them, helping protect existing customers while providing reliable service to all.
The IRP is filed with the Missouri Public Service Commission every three years and may be updated more frequently as part of Ameren Missouri's ongoing planning process. The plan evaluates resource options using a broad range of assumptions and scenarios to support sound, long-term decision-making.