Renewable energy company RWE is bringing 190 megawatts (MW) of battery energy storage projects online in the U.S., the company said Feb. 14, adding stability to power grids.
The three projects—two in Texas and one in Arizona—will lift RWE’s total U.S. battery storage capacity to about 512 MW and its global battery storage capacity to about 700 MW.
“Battery storage is growing even more critical to enable the rapid deployment of wind and solar projects, help stabilize the U.S. power grid and better ensure that enough electric supply is available to meet demand,” said RWE Clean Energy CEO Andrew Flanagan. “As part of our Growing Green Strategy, we’re planning to increase our battery portfolio globally to 6 gigawatts by 2030, and these three new systems are contributing to that goal.”
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are playing a pivotal role in the world’s decarbonization journey as the use of intermittent renewable energy sources for electricity rises. The systems can store energy and then supply it to the grid when needed.
Located in Sulphur Springs, Texas, the 100-MW Bright Arrow battery storage with 300 MW of solar PV came online in December, RWE said. The company plans to bring an additional 200 MW of solar into commercial operation in the spring.
The 80-MW battery storage and 200-MW solar PV project in Bastrop County, Texas, called Big Star, is scheduled to begin commercial operations in March.
In Arizona’s Maricopa County, the 10-MW battery storage and 52.5-MW solar project, called Mesquite 4, is scheduled to come online in February. The project will increase the operating capacity of the Mesquite Complex to about 530 MW, RWE said.
The company said it has about 770 MW of BESS projects under construction in the U.S.
“At 14 GW, BESS comprises more than a third of RWE’s 36 GW onshore wind, solar and battery storage development pipeline in the U.S.,” the company said.
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