Nebraska Public Power District, City of Norfolk work on state’s largest community solar project, battery storage

With a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) and approval from the Norfolk City Council, the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is creating the state’s largest community solar project and its first battery energy storage system (BESS).

“As technologies have advanced and costs have decreased, rural Nebraska is now in position to produce energy as efficiently as it does food,“ Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning said. “We are excited to initiate Nebraska’s largest solar project, tied to the state’s first battery energy storage system, while helping lower energy bills and provide renewable options to interested citizens and businesses.”  

A $490,000 grant over two years is helping to make the BESS side of the project a reality. It will be charged through the solar unit and store roughly the amount of electricity used by a small home over two months. As for the solar side, once completed it will generate 8.5 megawatts of energy. Community members will be able to purchase energy from it without having to install rooftop panels on their own property and be able to tailor the amount of solar energy they purchase based on their annual electricity usage.

“NPPD is pleased to be working with the city of Norfolk for being the host community in this first of a kind project,” Tim Arlt, NPPD Retail General Manager, said. “We look forward to working with Norfolk customers who want to participate in a renewable energy project as we move forward with the construction process.”

The BESS demonstration project is expected to be in operation by mid-2020.