Younicos has completed the installation and commissioning of an upgraded 36-MW, battery-based energy storage system at the site of Duke Energy’s 153-MW Notrees Windpower Project in West Texas. The company replaced previously deployed lead-acid technology with advanced Samsung SDI lithium-ion batteries.
The Notrees battery-based energy storage system, funded in part by a U.S. Department of Energy Smart Grid award, was initially constructed by Duke Energy in 2012, and remains the largest wind-integrated storage resource in North America.
The Notrees system has been in operation since 2012, actively participating in Texas grid operator ERCOT’s Fast Response Regulation Services (FRRS) market. The new lithium-ion battery system will increase duration of discharge at the facility, enabling it to expand service delivery in the FRRS market. It will also have the capability to provide additional fast-responding services currently under development by ERCOT as part of its ancillary service market redesign.
“Duke Energy Renewables was a pioneer in its early adoption and installation of the Notrees Battery Storage Project, one of the largest in the nation,” said Jeff Wehner, vice president operations, Duke Energy Renewables. “Investing in updated technology will extend the life of the project, enhance performance and reliability, and expand the value it provides to the ERCOT market.”
In 2016, Duke Energy Renewables began the process to upgrade Notrees’ older battery technology, in two phases. The first phase involved replacing 50 percent of the batteries, while the system continued to operate using Younicos hybrid control software. In phase two, the remaining lead-acid batteries were replaced with lithium-ion, without any performance interruption. During this swap-out process, the remaining life of the existing lead-acid technology was maximized, showcasing the flexibility and capability of Younicos’ proprietary Y.Q software.
“Our Y.Q software performed seamlessly during the upgrade process, reinforcing its flexibility and multi-mode operational capability.”
Spencer Hanes, managing director of business development for energy storage, for Duke Energy added: “As we look ahead to integrating more storage technology with our renewables projects, the Notrees system demonstrates our ability to serve an important customer, ERCOT, and at the same time create value from energy storage systems.”
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