By Editors of Power Engineering

As part of Duke Energy’s Western Carolinas Modernization plan, the utility announced plans to install the two biggest battery storage systems yet seen in North Carolina.

The first of these will be a nine-MW lithium-ion battery system slated to be installed at a Duke Energy substation in the Rick Hill community of Asheville. The battery will be used for more efficient grid operations, including frequency regulation.

The second will be a four-MW lithium-ion battery system to improve electric reliability for the town of Hot Springs. Duke is also considering an attached solar facility.

Duke’s first two North Carolina energy storage projects, scheduled to come online in 2019, could just be the beginning.

“Duke Energy has experience with many battery storage projects around the nation,” said Robert Sipes, vice president of Western Carolinas Modernization for Duke Energy. “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.”

Duke’s Western Carolinas Modernization plan, created with the input of region stakeholders and the Energy Innovation Task Force, a collaborative effort with the city of Asheville and Buncombe County, aims to meet the region’s power demand.

Further details about the plan will be filed in early 2018.

Duke also plans to close a 376-MW coal plant in the area.