On Jan. 14, Duke Energy activated a $100 million, 50-megawatt battery at the site of a former coal-powered plant in Gaston County, N.C. Duke Energy, which holds a legal monopoly on electricity in North Carolina and six other states, said the battery reflected their company’s commitment to cleaner energy.
“We’re building new resources to keep the Carolinas’ economy thriving, while reinvesting in a former coal plant community that helped power this region for decades,” North Carolina branch president Kendal Bowman said in a statement. “Repurposing existing energy infrastructure and taking advantage of federal funding significantly offset costs for our customers while continuing to support rapid growth across the region.”
The battery can store up to 200 megawatt-hours of energy produced by renewable sources like wind or solar. During times of high demand, such as long winters or power outages, it can power up to 50,000 homes for four hours.
Duke Energy announced that it will start construction on another 167-megawatt battery in May. Both batteries are eligible for federal investment tax credits, lowering operating costs and, in turn, consumer costs.
Like the vast majority of North Carolina, Wake Forest relies heavily on Duke Energy power. The university houses a 20-megawatt transformer connection to a bidirectional transmission line owned by Duke Energy. Thus, the company’s investments in environmentally-conscious battery technology could decrease the cost of living for some Wake Forest students and improve overall campus sustainability.
Jimmy Nifong, the director of Utilities Operations and Energy Management at Wake Forest, said the new battery is an important step towards cleaner energy in North Carolina.
“Battery storage technology is a key component in storing renewable electricity, which will allow Duke Energy to continue to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation,” Nifong said.
