Nov. 11 (Bloomberg) — Renewable Energy Systems Ltd., a
developer of clean-energy projects, is building battery storage
units near Chicago that will boost grid reliability.
Renewable Energy Systems plans two 19.8-megawatt storage
units, one in West Chicago and another in Joliet, the company’s
Broomfield, Colorado-based unit said today in a statement. When
completed in August, the systems will be the largest on the
continent, the company said. Terms weren’t disclosed.
Storage systems absorb excess energy when there is
oversupply and release it when power is needed allowing
providers to avoid expensive generators when demand peaks. The
units can also store excess power from intermittent sources like
wind and solar, allowing utilities to blend renewable energy
into their supply.
BYD America Corp. will provide lithium iron phosphate
battery modules for the projects. Commonwealth Edison Co., a
unit of Exelon Corp., will use the systems to help balance power
on the grid and improve reliability.
In a nod to the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers,” the
storage units are named Jake and Elwood, the lead characters in
the movie played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Justin Doom in New York at
jdoom1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Reed Landberg at
landberg@bloomberg.net
Jim Efstathiou Jr., Robin Saponar