Wisconsin’s first utility-scale battery energy storage system is now in operation and delivering electricity into the grid during the darker hours.
The 110-MW BESS portion of the Paris Solar-Battery Park entered commercial operations this month, six months after the 200-MW solar farm built next door. The Paris Solar-Battery Park is located in Kenosha County and operated by utility We Energies.
The BESS can deliver enough power to 130,000 homes for four hours, according to the release. It stores excess generation from the solar during sunny day times and discharges it at night or in the early morning.
“Bringing Wisconsin’s first large-scale battery storage project online is historic and continues our commitment to provide customers with reliable and affordable energy,” said Mike Hooper, president — We Energies, in a statement. “Our ‘all of the above’ power generation approach means customers can count on the energy they need, no matter the weather or the time of day.”
Invenergy developed the project, which is majority owned by We Energies. Wisconsin Public Service and Madison Gas & Electric also have ownership stakes. All three of those utilities are part of the WEC Energy Group.
We Energies, Wisconsin Public Service and Madison Gas & Electric also own the largest solar installation in the Badger State: The 300-MW Badget Hollow Park which became operational last year.
Wisconsin ranks 18th in the country for installed solar capacity with about 2.9 GW on the ground, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.
