ATLANTA, July 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on
its 100-year commitment to innovation and historic focus on the
research and development of emerging energy solutions, Southern
Company and its Gulf Power subsidiary today officially launched the
latest battery storage research project in Southern Company's
operating territory. The project represents another important
milestone in the company's work to build the future of energy.
The McCrary Battery Energy Storage Demonstration will
demonstrate the capabilities and requirements of an energy storage
system designed to help industrial and commercial customers store
and use energy on demand, while improving resiliency and
potentially helping customers save on energy costs in the
future.
Located in Pensacola, Florida,
at Gulf Power's Douglas L. McCrary Training and Storm Center, the
new research project will test and evaluate a 250 kilowatt/1
megawatt-hour Tesla Powerpack lithium-ion industrial energy storage
system over a two-year period. Insights gained from the
demonstration are expected to accelerate the development of battery
storage technology across the Southern Company system. The
lithium-ion technology under evaluation is the same battery
chemistry used in electric vehicles and consumer electronics such
as laptops.
Company executives and experts hosted a commissioning and
ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the project's opening.
"At Southern Company, we are constantly broadening our
industry-leading expertise to harness new technologies that can
deliver clean, safe, reliable, affordable energy to customers,"
said Southern Company Executive Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer Kimberly S. Greene. "This
collaborative research project with Gulf Power will deepen our
understanding of battery energy storage systems and the value they
can provide."
"Gulf Power is proud to be involved in this battery energy
storage demonstration at the McCrary Training and Storm Center and
to be in the forefront of evaluating innovative energy
technologies," said Stan Connally,
Gulf Power chairman, president and CEO. "Throughout our history, we
have been host to the development of energy solutions that have
resulted in greater energy efficiency, cleaner energy production
and value for our customers – and this commissioning event signals
our ongoing commitment to build a better energy future."
The McCrary Battery Energy Storage Demonstration was developed
by Southern Company research and development in partnership with
Gulf Power and in collaboration with the Electric Power Research
Institute's Integrated Grid Initiative and Tesla.
Specifically, the project aims to further the understanding of
the siting, installation and operational requirements of
commercial- and industrial-scale energy storage systems. It will
provide information on the advantages battery storage can offer
customers and energy providers through peak shaving, demand
management, ancillary services, energy arbitrage and backup
power.
Southern Company remains at the forefront of accelerating the
development and deployment of energy storage systems that will
offer many benefits and great promise to the electric utility
industry. From greater reliability to increased use of renewable
energy to reduced prices for customers, energy storage has the
potential to further enable the smart grid and help utilities meet
customers' needs.
The McCrary Battery Energy Storage Demonstration is just one
component of Southern Company's energy storage research portfolio,
which includes residential-, commercial-, industrial- and
utility-scale battery projects in locations across the company's
Southeastern electric service territory.
The Southern Company system has managed approximately
$2.3 billion in R&D investments,
leading to the development of technologies that will revolutionize
the production, delivery and end-use of energy.
Another example of Southern Company's many innovations includes
a recently announced strategic alliance between subsidiary
PowerSecure and Advanced Microgrid Solutions. The companies will
jointly develop and deploy behind-the-meter distributed energy
resources across the U.S. Last year, Southern Company and
PowerSecure announced a strategic alliance with Bloom Energy that
includes project investment and joint technology development.
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company,
with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion
cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput
volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The
company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy
through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas
distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation
company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally
recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as
fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands
are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and
affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an
industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its
subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing
the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free
nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy
efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit
of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S.
Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs
magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50
Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise
magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and
designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The
company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History
from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and
commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among
the top energy companies in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired
Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at
www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Company