Dominion Energy files four battery storage pilot projects in Virginia

Dominion Energy plans to bring four battery storage projects to Virginia, the largest of their kind in the state to date.

The projects totaling 16 megawatts (MW) will store energy from the company’s solar energy production. Dominion Energy looks at the efforts as stepping stones to further technology advances and improvements of grid stability.

“Energy storage is critical to providing continued reliability for our customers as we expand our renewable portfolio,” Mark Mitchell, Dominion’s vice president of generation construction, said. “Battery storage has made significant strides in recent years, in both efficiency and cost. These pilot projects will enable Dominion Energy to better understand how best to deploy batteries to help overcome the inherent fluctuation of wind and solar generation sources.”

All four projects will be lithium-ion based and established in Central Virginia. The projects have been filed with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), which will determine whether to greenlight the $33 million construction. If approved, the facilities are expected to begin operation in December 2020, after which they will be evaluated for five years.

“These pilot projects will allow us to analyze the use of energy storage for grid stability support as an alternative to traditional upgrades of grid equipment, such as transformers,” Joe Woomer, Dominion’s vice president of grid & technical solutions, said. “Battery storage has the potential to serve a key role in maintaining reliable service for our customers as we work to integrate renewables and improve grid resiliency.”

The company said that 12 MW provided by the projects will stem from two systems installed in Powhatan County. Two other battery systems, each providing 2 MW, will be installed at substations in Ashland and New Kent County.

Separately, the company issued a Request for Proposals seeking bids for up to 500 MW of solar and onshore wind generation in the state.