Duke brings two battery storage projects online in Florida

Duke Energy announced the completion of two battery storage projects in Florida totaling 17.2 MWh of combined energy capacity.

Duke brings two battery storage projects online in Florida
The recently completed Micanopy battery site in Alachua County is 8.25 MW/11.7 MWh and is located 15 miles southwest of Gainesville. The site provides a cost-effective solution for focused power quality and reliability for the town of Micanopy and nearby neighbors. (Courtesy: Duke Energy Florida)

Duke Energy announced the completion of two battery storage projects in Florida totaling 17.2 MWh of combined energy capacity.

The recently completed Micanopy battery site in Alachua County is 8.25 MW/11.7 MWh and is located 15 miles southwest of Gainesville. The site provides a cost-effective solution for focused power quality and reliability for the town of Micanopy and nearby neighbors.

The Jennings battery site, completed in April, is 5.5 MW/5.5 MWh and is located 1.5 miles south of the Florida-Georgia border in the town of Jennings in Hamilton County. This site will continue to improve power reliability through energy storage as an alternative solution to installing new and more costly distribution equipment.

Earlier this year, Duke Energy Florida announced the completion of three battery projects in Gilchrist, Gulf and Highlands counties. The new sites are part of Duke Energy’s commitment to have six battery sites, totaling 50 MW, in operation in Florida this year.

Duke Energy Florida is also developing a 3.5 MW solar plus storage microgrid site at Pinellas County's John Hopkins Middle School. The microgrid will support grid operations and provide backup electric power to the school when it must operate as a special needs hurricane evacuation shelter.

The microgrid consists of a 1 MW solar parking canopy array, a 2.5 MW battery and associated controls, which will store and deploy clean, renewable energy to the school and grid. The project enhances electric service and grid operations for customers.