Duke Energy has started testing a new battery technology close to a solar farm at its Rankin substation in North Carolina.
The company said the aim is for the hybrid ultracapacitor-battery storage system to demonstrate multiple service applications, including: extended operational life; rapid response; real-time solar smoothing and load shifting.
One of the distribution lines at the substation is to a 1.2MW solar installation connected a mile away, Duke said.
It is partnering with three other companies on the project.
Aquion Energy is providing the battery technologies and associated engineering services. Maxwell Technologies is providing fast-response ultracapacitors, and Win Inertia is providing power electronics and energy management and control systems.
Duke Energy technology development manager Thomas Golden said: “With so many solar installations in North Carolina, we must look for innovative ways to better incorporate renewable energy into our system – and still provide reliable service at a competitive price for our customers.”
Image: Duke Energy
Duke starts solar storage demo
New battery system under examination at substation in North Carolina
By EBS