Utility-scale energy storage projects are coming as a next step toward developing an energy grid reliant on clean, renewable sources. 

Duke Energy has announced its first battery storage project in South Carolina, at the Anderson Civic Center. Duke will partner with Anderson County to build a 5-megawatt lithium ion battery that will tie into the utility’s energy grid. The battery will also be available to power the civic center (which serves as an emergency shelter) during extended power loss emergencies. 

Duke has applied to the South Carolina utility regulatory agency for approval of the project, which it wants to serve as the first of a series of battery storage projects in South Carolina.

The Anderson project doesn’t stand out in scale compared to some projects in progress elsewhere. However, it is an example of a potential “distributed” storage system which could serve dual roles as a part of the larger energy grid, and could add more localized resiliency value for key facilities in the event of major storm impacts.

The first project in South Carolina joins other small projects in North Carolina, like two battery storage projects totaling 13 megawatts of capacity in our state’s mountains.Clean energy advocates are pressing for faster transition to a system based entirely on clean energy. In the process, we can also point to these incremental efforts as proof that the concept is practical. We only need to commit and push forward. Tell your legislators to support Clean Energy for All!