Minnesota’s Connexus Energy readies its solar energy storage sites

Connexus Energy hosted a “Celebrate the Sun” event at its Minnesota offices to show customers its new solar energy storage sites.

Attendees learned about the company’s solar plus storage sites in Ramsey and Athens Township, Minn., and got a tour of the Ramsey site. It is one of the first facilities in the country to use batteries integrated with a solar array to manage peak demand.

Connexus is integrating large-scale battery storage at both the Ramsey and Athens sites for a total of 15 megawatts of battery storage.

“We listen to members who tell us they want renewable energy without it costing more,” Connexus CEO Greg Ridderbusch said. “Most solar energy is produced when there is lower demand and the price is lower. We will discharge stored solar energy during peak hours when energy costs are the highest.”

Brian Burandt, vice president of power supply at Connexus, said the two solar arrays with the battery storage would be fully operational by the end of 2018.

“We are pleased to partner with Connexus on this forward-looking project,” said Jason Utton, vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources, which designed, built and will own and operate the energy storage project. “Pairing solar energy with innovative battery storage technology is a big win for customers who get to benefit from more affordable, renewable energy for more hours of the day.”

Connexus is the largest member-owned utility in Minnesota providing electricity to approximately 132,000 homes and businesses in portions of Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne, and Washington counties.