Some things just go together. Like peanut butter and jelly, popcorn and movies and Bert and Ernie, solar power and battery storage go hand-in-hand. In fact, the expansion of energy storage infrastructure is key to accelerating the transition to cleaner and more sustainable renewable energy like solar power. With major transformations already underway, we’re working rapidly to balance energy demands, reduce the need for traditional power grid updates and increase security in the event of an outage or severe weather.
As the electric grid continues to evolve, we’re leading the way with innovative battery storage solutions designed to keep energy flowing 24/7. We’re working to integrate emerging technologies and optimize energy resources such as solar power, battery storage and traditional generation systems. When combined, these efforts provide our customers with improved energy reliability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Recently, we’ve made exciting energy storage progress in several communities in our service area. See how battery projects in Boaz, Marshalltown, and Cedar Rapids are paving the way for clean, reliable energy today and into the future.
Boaz reliability microgrid
This microgrid pilot project – the first of its kind in Wisconsin – will create a small-scale power grid with islanding capability, meaning it can be disconnected from the traditional grid to operate independently in the event of a power outage or service disruption.
When disconnected from the central grid, microgrids serve customers in a defined area with power from one or more distributed energy resources such as battery, wind, solar or a combination thereof to improve reliability.
Project development of the Boaz microgrid is underway and we expect system completion in late 2022.
Marshalltown Solar Garden
Speaking of great pairings, our Marshalltown Solar Garden sits right next to our Marshalltown Generating Station, one of the most efficient natural-gas-fired facilities in the country. Both energy sources are part of our diverse energy mix, allowing us to continue providing reliable and cost-effective energy to our customers. The Marshalltown Solar Garden is the site of our first battery that’s directly connected to a utility-sized solar field. It’s made up of more than 9,500 solar panels combined with a 548kWh battery, which can be fully charged in just two hours. When discharged, the battery can power nearly 200 homes for two hours.
Duane Arnold Solar Project
In November 2021, we announced our intent to acquire 200 megawatts of solar energy and 75 megawatts of battery energy storage from the Duane Arnold Solar Project that NextEra Energy Resources is developing. The projects are expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Our plan repurposes a portion of the land and infrastructure at the former Duane Arnold nuclear energy facility into Iowa’s largest solar and battery storage facility.
Customers, communities and the environment benefit as we reduce carbon emissions while powering tens of thousands of homes with cost-effective, renewable energy. Pairing battery storage with solar in this way cost-effectively ensures safe and reliable service for customers.
Ready for more examples of perfect partnerships? Learn more about our battery storage progress and how we’re working with communities to bring the benefits of solar generation to those we serve.