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.”

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.

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 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

July 25, 2025
Estuary Power has commenced operations of the 185MW solar, 400MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) Escape project in Lincoln County, Nevada, US.
July 24, 2025
CEA has recently released two battery energy storage system (BESS) reports for Q2 2025, the Energy Storage System Price Forecasting Report and the ESS Supply, Technology, and Policy Report.
July 23, 2025
Optimiser GridBeyond, over the summer, began operating the 200MW/400MWh Big Rock Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in El Centro, California, with Gore Street Energy Storage Fund (GSF).
July 23, 2025
Three companies, Ultion Technologies, Ultium Cells and SK On have recently announced plans to begin manufacturing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells in the US.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter