Appalachian Power requests proposals for 7.5 MW total of battery energy storage in rural Virginia

To improve reliability, Appalachian Power issued a formal request for proposals (RFP) today for three battery systems capable of providing 7.5 MW for the Glade-Whitetop circuit in rural Washington County, Va.

“Reducing the frequency and duration of outages in heavily forested, remote areas is a challenge,” Appalachian Power President and COO Chris Beam said. “Deploying technology is one way to improve reliability while also meeting our goals under the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) to add a mix of renewables and battery storage to our energy portfolio.”

The VCEA required Appalachian Power to provide fully carbon-free energy by 2050. The company has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Currently, 7,100 MW of its approximately 31,000 MW generating capacity come from renewable energy.

In deploying battery storage, the company would be able to reduce interruptions in service. These systems would kick in when the normal flow of electricity gets disrupted, be it by lightning, fallen trees, or other incidents.

The RFP noted that local goods or services from Virginia-based businesses are encouraged by bidders, be it for the construction or operation of the project. Proposals are due by Oct. 1, 2022. After acceptance, bids will need to be approved by regulatory authorities as well.