Battery Storage Power Projects Becoming Big Business in the U.S.

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--It should come as no surprise that Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) recently announced that it would invest $500 million over the next 15 years in battery storage projects in the Carolinas. Brock Ramey, power specialist at Industrial Info, says, "Battery storage projects are becoming increasingly prevalent in the U.S., especially as intermittent renewables such as solar become a bigger part of the power load and microgrid and unit additions in industrial sectors continue to be a leading trend." Industrial Info is tracking more than $5.2 billion in active battery storage projects in the U.S. California, a leading state for solar power generation, leads in terms of planned project activity.

Duke's announcement means that it will be adding about 300 megawatts (MW) of battery storage capacity in North Carolina and South Carolina. According to Duke, it has only about 15 MW of battery storage in North Carolina and less in South Carolina.

Among the battery storage projects Duke has planned in North Carolina is the addition of a 4-MW battery storage system to service the remote town of Hot Springs. This week, the company filed for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the project, which is accompanied by a 2-MW solar facility, with the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Construction could kick off and be completed next year. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

In New Jersey, Viridity Energy Solutions Incorporated (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is underway with construction on two 20-MW battery energy storage projects in Creamridge and Alpha. Construction began this summer and is expected to be completed this quarter. The projects each have an estimated total investment value (TIV) of $24 million. For more information, see Industrial Info's project reports on the facilities in Creamridge and Alpha.

In California, Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) (San Diego, California) is planning a 30-MW battery energy storage system at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego to increase grid reliability. Renewable Energy Systems Limited (Broomfield, Colorado) is the contractor on the project, which has an estimated TIV of $45 million. Construction could begin in the first half of next year, for completion in the summer of 2020. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Also in California, PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) (San Francisco, California) is planning to construct a 10-MW battery storage plant to provide frequency response and voltage control to the grid. The project has an estimated TIV of $25 million and could begin in the second quarter of next year for completion in the fourth quarter. Hecate Energy LLC (Nashville, Tennessee) is the technology provider. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

While most battery storage systems are associated with solar power, this is not always the case. An example is SunEdison LLC's (Belmont, California) upgrading a battery storage system at a windfarm on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The $20 million project replaced existing lead-acid batteries with lithium-ion batteries. The storage system will have a capacity of 10 MW. The project began earlier this year and was recently completed. The project will help smooth out power variability caused by changes in windspeed. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Battery storage systems also can be part of hybrid systems. In New York, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners (Houston, Texas) is planning to construct a 20-MW natural gas/battery storage system in Kingston. The system will include two natural gas-fired reciprocating generators to provide the energy to the storage system. Construction on the $45 million project is expected to kick off in the first quarter of next year for completion by yearend. The Chazen Companies Incorporated (Poughkeepsie, New York) is the engineer. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.