Duke Energy Florida to Build 22 MW Battery Storage System

The company has scheduled the completion of all three projects by the end of 2020.

Duke Energy Florida (DEF) has announced three battery storage projects, totaling 22 megawatts, that will improve overall reliability and support critical services during power outages. Collectively, the storage facilities will enhance grid operations, increase efficiencies and improve overall reliability for surrounding communities.

They will also provide important backup generation during power outages, a service that is becoming increasingly important with the number and intensity of storms that have recently impacted the state.

As the grid manager and operator, DEF can maximise the versatility of battery technology to include multiple customer and electric system benefits such as balancing energy demand, managing intermittent resources, increasing energy security and deferring traditional power grid upgrades.

These benefits help reduce costs for customers and increase operational efficiencies.

• The 11-megawatt (MW) Trenton lithium-based battery facility will be located 30 miles west of Gainesville in Gilchrist County. The energy storage project will continue to improve power reliability using newer technologies.
• The 5.5-MW Cape San Blas lithium-based battery facility will be located approximately 40 miles southeast of Panama City in Gulf County. The project will provide additional power capacity to meet our customers’ increasing demand for energy. This project is an economical alternative to replacing distribution equipment necessary to accommodate local load growth. 
• The 5.5-MW Jennings lithium-based battery facility will be located 1.5 miles south of the Florida-Georgia border in Hamilton County. The project will continue to improve power reliability through energy storage as an alternative solution to installing new and more costly distribution equipment.

The company has scheduled the completion of all three projects by the end of 2020.

“These battery projects provide electric system benefits that will help improve local reliability for our customers and provide significant energy services to the power grid,” said Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Duke Energy Florida will continue to identify opportunities in battery storage technology which will deliver efficiency improvements to our customers.”