City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., has completed construction on its Blackman battery energy storage system, the utility’s first large-scale battery project in Springfield.
The zinc-based system adds 5 megawatts of new electric capacity and marks a major milestone in CU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen grid reliability and meet the community’s increasing energy demands, it said on July 29.
CU partnered with Eos Energy Enterprises to install non-flammable, fully recyclable zinc batteries manufactured in the United States. Designed to operate longer than traditional lithium-ion systems, the batteries offer one of the safest and most durable solutions for grid-scale energy storage available today.
The Blackman project is the first of two battery energy storage system installations planned by CU.
The site is located near the Blackman Water Treatment Plant and has now moved into final commissioning and testing. It is expected to be fully operational in August.
A second, larger 31 MW battery system near the former James River Power Station is currently under construction and is anticipated to come online later this year.
The systems will charge during periods of low electricity demand -- typically overnight -- and dispatch stored electricity during peak hours, usually between 3 and 7 p.m. in the summer.
This strategy allows CU to utilize lower-cost energy while enhancing grid stability when demand is highest. Each system will be capable of dispatching power for up to six hours.
“At City Utilities, every investment we make is centered around one goal: delivering reliable utility services while providing long-term value for our customers and our community,” said Dwayne Fulk, President-CEO of City Utilities. “Projects like this battery energy storage system ensure we’re meeting today’s needs and making smart investments that will benefit Springfield for years to come. This system strengthens the resiliency of our electric grid and gives us another tool to meet demand when our customers need electricity most.”
In addition to the battery projects, CU is installing three new natural gas combustion turbines at the McCartney Generating Station in northeast Springfield. Together, these initiatives will add nearly 186 MW of new generation capacity -- an 18% increase in CU’s local fleet.
"These investments come at a critical time as utilities nationwide work to expand capacity in response to rising demand and evolving regulatory requirements," the public power utility noted.
The American Public Power Association’s Public Power Energy Storage Tracker is a resource for association members that summarizes public power energy storage projects that are currently online. The tracker is available here.
