Duke Energy Florida launches Bring Your Own Battery study

Duke Energy Florida launched a new study to learn more about customer use of battery technology and explore opportunities to leverage existing battery energy storage systems.

The Bring Your Own Battery (BYOB) study involves Duke Energy Florida customers who currently have batteries installed in their homes to provide backup power in case of an outage. The 12-month study will allow the company to call on these devices to support the grid during peak demand. The idea is to reduce energy costs for participants and ultimately allow customers to participate directly in the company’s transition to a cleaner energy future.

“Batteries are an exciting technology that will play a significant and evolving role in how energy is delivered to customers now and in the future,” Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, said. “With the introduction of studies like BYOB, we are developing ways to provide even greater value to our customers while improving energy resiliency and advancing solar technologies in Florida.”

The company is working with several vendors — including Sunrun, Generac, SolarEdge, and Virtual Peaker — to offer existing battery customers in Florida the opportunity to participate in the BYOB battery study.

“We want to provide innovative solutions that increase grid resilience and expand home backup power options,” Mary Powell, Sunrun CEO, said. “Sunrun’s partnership with Duke Energy will provide affordable, clean, backup power solutions for households in Florida while also supporting grid reliability at the community level. This study is an example of how collaboration can accelerate the transition to a clean energy future.”

Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electricity to approximately 1.9 million customers in Florida.