Duke Energy to develop North Carolina’s largest battery storage projects

By Conor Ryan
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
 Both projects are expected to be online in 2019. Image: Duke Energy

Duke Energy announced plans to install North Carolina’s two largest battery storage systems — which stands as a US$30 million investment as part of Duke Energy’s Western Carolinas Modernisation Plan.

Robert Sipes, vice president of Western Carolinas Modernisation for Duke Energy, said: “Duke Energy has experience with many battery storage projects around the nation. Western North Carolina is an ideal spot to use this technology to serve remote areas, or where extra resources are needed to help the existing energy infrastructure.”

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 two sites are just the first part of a larger plan Duke Energy has to spur energy storage in the region.

A 9MW lithium-ion battery system will be developed in the city of Asheville and placed at a Duke Energy substation. The battery will primarily be used to help the electric system operate more efficiently by providing energy support to the electric system, including frequency regulation and other grid support services.   

The other energy storage system will be a 4MW lithium-ion battery system that will help improve electric reliability in the town of Hot Springs, located in Madison County.

Further details on the projects will be filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission in early 2018. Both projects are expected to be online in 2019.

Read Next

Premium
July 1, 2025
As US Senators vote on the tax reconciliation bill, experts Jessica Dunn of Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Tonja L. Wicks of esVolta discuss its potential impact.
June 27, 2025
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Electricity (OE) has announced funding of up to US$15 million for three storage technologies.
June 26, 2025
Fengate Asset Management and Alpha Omega Power’s (AOP’s) 100MW/400MWh Caballero battery energy storage system (BESS) in California, has reached commercial operations.
June 26, 2025
Independent power producer (IPP) CleanCapital has acquired a 27MW solar and 25MWh battery storage portfolio across Massachusetts and California, from Pacifico Energy.
June 26, 2025
Utility Tokyo Gas has begun operating energy software and consulting group Ascend Analytics’ bid optimisation platform for its 174MW Longbow battery energy storage system (BESS) in Texas.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter