Great River Energy Working On A Long-duration Storage Technology

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As ever more renewable energy is added to the electric grid, utilities continue to preserve one of electricity’s most important qualities: reliability.

Large conventional power plants that have shut down in recent years are often replaced with new generators, such as wind turbines and solar panels, that can produce electricity at a lower cost. But because most of those resources rely on the sun and wind, they need a dependable backup.

“Renewable energy paired with flexible generation is a proven recipe for affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy,” said Jon Brekke, vice president and chief power supply officer for Great River Energy. “Today, our natural gas-fueled power plants serve an essential role in maintaining reliable power supply.”

Great River Energy has a fleet of peaking plants ready to produce energy when its members or the larger grid need it. They can start up in a matter of minutes with employees able to ramp production up or down quickly to supply energy and balance the grid. When combined with the Midwest’s high availability of wind, natural gas peaking plants provide stability today and flexibility for a future with new technologies and opportunities.

Batteries a possible future solution

Energy storage has long been viewed as a promising option for reliability. However, current storage technology is limited to short-term periods and unable to cost-effectively fulfill the role currently performed by peaking plants. Longer duration storage is being developed that may someday offer a competitive option for providing reliability and flexibility.

Great River Energy is working with a U.S. battery technology developer on a first-of-its-kind demonstration of a long-duration storage technology. The 1-megawatt storage pilot project will be in Cambridge, Minnesota, with completion targeted for late 2023.

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