Dominion Energy Virginia opens energy storage pilot project in Powhatan County
Dominion Energy Virginia’s largest battery energy storage pilot project, the Scott Solar facility in Powhatan County, is now operational, the company announced.
The Scott Solar facility features three independent 4-hour battery systems totaling 12 megawatts. It will provide information on the proficiency of battery technology to store energy generated from solar panels during periods of high production and release energy during periods when the load is high or solar generation is low.
It is one of three utility-scale battery storage pilot projects in its portfolio, along with a 2-megawatt facility in New Kent County that was commissioned in late February and a 2-megawatt battery in Hanover County that is scheduled to become operational later this year. All three projects have been approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC).
In addition, Dominion Energy has received approval from the Virginia SCC for the 20-megawatt Dry Bridge storage in Chesterfield County and 50 megawatts of storage at Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County.
“Battery storage is an integral component to the clean energy transition in Virginia, supporting grid reliability for our customers during periods of high demand and by helping to fill gaps due to the inherent intermittency of solar and wind power,” Ed Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia, said. “These battery systems will help us better understand how best to deploy utility-scale batteries across our service territory to support our goal of net zero emissions by 2050.”
These projects support the company’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon and methane emissions by 2050, increase renewable generation, and improve grid reliability.
Dominion currently has the second largest solar portfolio in the country. It is also developing offshore wind energy off the coast of Virginia Beach. Dominion Energy, based in Richmond, Va., serves about 7 million customers in 14 states.
