Distributed Energy Resources  -  January 10, 2022

North Carolina’s Electric Co-ops Deploying Battery Storage

North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives announced the planned installation of battery energy storage technology in 10 communities across rural North Carolina that will provide 40 MWs of power.

The batteries will be located at electric cooperative substations, adding local energy resources in communities for enhanced grid infrastructure resilience and reliability for co-op consumer-members. They will be charged when demand for electricity is low and discharged during moments of peak demand.

The batteries are being engineered and constructed by North Carolina-based FlexGen, an energy storage technology company.

This not only enhances electric reliability but is expected to provide cost savings over the lifetime of the batteries.

“Energy storage technology enables North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives to enhance reliability and achieve cost savings that will benefit our consumer-members in rural North Carolina, now and in the years to come,” said Amadou Fall, chief operating officer at North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives in a statement. “Cooperatives remain committed to innovation that advances our Brighter Future vision for electricity that is increasingly sustainable, affordable and reliable, and supports our goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

The battery energy storage system installations will begin in early 2022 with activations anticipated in the summer. Each site will bring temporary construction jobs to the local community and help enhance area resources for future investment.