Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) have signed agreements to cooperate on launching a battery storage project in Whatcom County, USA.
Electricity will be stored in battery modules that are as large as 40-foot shipping containers, the same amount of energy found in 1.7 million AA batteries. The battery system will be capable of providing up to 18 hours of power during an outage for the core area of Glacier. The project will also perform "peak shaving," which involves harnessing electricity when customers' energy consumption is low, storing it, and then releasing it back into the system when demand is high, like on extremely cold days. The battery system also increases PSE's flexibility of the power grid and supports greater integration of renewable generation, such as wind and solar power. PSE plans to submit applications for permits for the project later this year. Construction is expected to begin as early as June 2015.