A new project from Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) proposes the installation of large-scale batteries that store excess wind energy and discharge it during times of peak demand--not just when the turbines are in action.
Partially funded by the U.S. DOE for about $22 million, Duke plans to match this funding with its own money and begin installations at its Notrees Windpower Projects in Ector and Winkler counties, Texas.
Why Is This Important?
The prevailing technology used at wind and solar farms throughout the world allows electricity to be produced only when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.
This means, the electricity generated by wind power is non-dispatchable. For economic operation, all of the available output must be taken when it is available. To meet the needs of supply and demand wind energy output has to be matched up with other forms such as hydro-electrical and nuclear.
The intent of the Notrees Projects is to demonstrate how energy storage can help overcome wind power's issue of intermittent energy production.
Far Reaching Consequences:
If successful, Duke Energy stands to set a precedence by potentially eliminating one of the key obstacles to wind-energy implementation. Such a benchmark will put other utilities on notice, showing again how the constant evolution of technology is making clean-energy possible.
This project represents one of the nation's first demonstrations of energy storage at a utility-scale wind farm. The 95 wind turbines in operation at Duke Energy's Notrees site can generate 151 MW of clean, renewable electricity. In April 2009, Walmart began purchasing energy directly from the Notrees project to power up to 15 percent of its stores and facilities in Texas.
The total value of the 20 MW energy storage project at Duke Energy's Notrees site is $43.6 million.
A fiction writer who has won awards for his work, Harry has recently shifted focus to society’s role in bettering the world. For him, this means a keen interest in sustainable living, which also includes renewable energy. His regular contributions to Energyboom often deal with the highly-debated biofuel industry, a topic he finds to be a continuous source of learning and controversy.
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