Michigan utility Consumers Energy signs 100MW BESS PPA with developer Jupiter Power

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
Consumers Energy Michigan pilot project.
A Consumers Energy distribution grid-connected 500kW battery storage system at Circuit West, an electrified residential development hosting innovative technologies in Michigan, US. Image: Consumers Energy.

Consumers Energy, one of eight investor-owned utility (IOU) companies in the US state of Michigan, has signed a 100MW battery storage deal with developer Jupiter Power.

The utility announced earlier this week (24 June) that it has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for a new-build battery energy storage system (BESS) asset in the Michigan township of Coldwater.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The deal will account for a significant portion of Consumers Energy’s target to procure 550MW of BESS resources by 2040. The utility will also build 75MW of its own battery storage capacity, and contract with other third-parties for the remainder.

In the shorter term, the utility has committed to phasing out the use of coal for electricity generation by the end of next year.

While Jupiter Power’s website doesn’t carry any information about the project, according to local news outlet Coldwater Daily Reporter, the developer received planning approvals from the township’s permitting department at the beginning of this month.

The Daily Reporter said the project, Tibbits, would represent a US$110 million investment. Jupiter Power would continue to own the asset.

Jupiter Power has a portfolio of BESS assets in operation in Texas’ ERCOT market, and a pipeline of projects in development in various US states totalling more than 11GW, the company claims.   

The developer was acquired by global asset manager Blackrock from previous owner EnCap Investments in 2022, and a few weeks ago unveiled its plans to construct a 700MW BESS at a former oil depot site in Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s adoption of energy storage is gathering pace after state governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of legislation that mandated a 100% clean energy standard for its utilities by 2040, and an energy storage deployment target of 2,500MW by 2030.

It became the first state in the US Midwest to set a comprehensive decarbonisation agenda in doing so. The region has traditionally been highly dependent on coal-fired generation.   

One of Consumers Energy’s fellow Michigan IOUs, DTE Energy, issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking approximately 120MW of energy storage resources in May, and earlier this month DTE began construction on a 220MW/880MWh standalone BESS project at the site of a decommissioned coal power plant.

Read Next

Premium
July 25, 2025
California’s largest electric utility is continuing its push to establish a net-zero energy system by 2040, finalising an offtake agreement for 1.8GWh of battery storage capacity with Aypa Power.
Premium
July 23, 2025
Developer Rhynland Energy has applied to Massachusetts’ energy regulator for approval of a 180MW/720MWh standalone BESS, to the dismay of local authorities in the Town of Oakham.
July 18, 2025
As we move through this decisive decade for clean energy, Asia’s energy storage market is stepping firmly onto the global stage.
July 16, 2025
Two US-headquartered solar and sustainability-focused investors have launched GSSG Chikuden, a utility-scale battery storage developer, in Japan.
July 15, 2025
Utility and power firm Engie has acquired two BESS projects from Recurrent Energy in Italy, totalling 200MW of capacity.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter