Alabama Utility Building 150-MW Battery Storage Project at Retired Coal-Fired Plant
Utility Alabama Power is developing the state’s first-ever utility-scale battery energy storage system at the site of a retired coal-fired generation plant.
The new Gorgas Battery Facility will store up to 150 MW of electricity generated by other Alabama Power resources. The battery storage capacity for Gorgas is the equivalent of power demand from about 9,000 homes.
"This facility will help Alabama Power understand how we can best use battery systems on our electric grid so that customers have power when they need it," said Jeff Peoples, Alabama Power Chairman, President and CEO, in statement. "The project honors Plant Gorgas' legacy, which played a significant role in powering the state of Alabama since 1917."
The 7-acre facility will be designed as a standalone system that will connect to and charge directly from the electric grid – the interconnected system of high voltage wires and equipment that moves large amounts of electricity across the state.
Construction will begin this year, with estimated completion by 2027. The lithium-ion phosphate batteries that will make up the system will have a 2-hour duration, with the ability to recharge in a little over 2 hours.
"Batteries can charge when energy costs are lower and discharge when energy costs are higher, helping keep costs down. They can also supply energy to our system quickly in response to changing conditions," said Brandon Dillard, senior vice president and production officer at Alabama Power. "We are excited to learn how battery storage technology best fits into our system to reliably serve our customers."
Batteries also have the potential to help integrate additional clean energy resources into the company's generation mix, providing complementary technology for variable, weather-dependent resources, like solar.
"As we work to make our system stronger and smarter, innovative technologies such as battery storage could help ensure a steady energy supply," Dillard added.
The decision to reuse the retired Plant Gorgas site illustrates Alabama Power's focus on sustainable solutions that reinforce its community commitment. Gorgas, which operated three coal-fired units, was retired in 2019 and partially demolished three years later.
"Plant Gorgas and Walker County hold a special place in our company's history," said Jill Stork, vice president of Western Division. "The reuse of this site reaffirms our support of the communities we have long served, ensuring sustainable solutions that honor our past while looking to the future."
