Planned to be built at Duke Energy’s retired W.C. Beckjord coal-fired power plant in New Richmond, , the system will help transmission organization PJM regulate electric grid frequency.
Duke Energy commercial transmission vice-president Phil Grigsby said: "Fast-responding energy storage is recognized for the tremendous benefits it provides to grid operations, because it can instantaneously absorb excess energy from the grid or release energy.
"Delivering that power in seconds, as opposed to a power plant that could take 10 minutes or more to ramp up, is the unique value the battery system provides to grid operators.
"This accurate and rapid response will help improve the overall reliability and economic efficiency of the grid. "
LG Chem will provide the integrated operating system, including advanced lithium-ion batteries, while Greensmith will deliver energy storage control and analytics software and system integration services for the project.
Expected to be commissioned by late 2015, the system will enhance reliability as well as improve stability on the electric power grid, Duke Energy said.
Greensmith CEO John Jung said: "The combination of Greensmith’s software with LG Chem’s battery technology will provide Duke Energy with a system that exemplifies how utilities can leverage grid-scale energy storage to improve operations and increase profitability."
