Talen Energy, the leading the power generation and infrastructure company, announced this Monday it will deploy up to 1 gigawatt of energy storage solutions across its U.S. footprint; in three states, as part of its strategic transformation from fossil fuels to renewables.
Firstly, the battery projects will range from 20 to 300 megawatts; the first two to be deployed in New Jersey and Baltimore. They will be deployed in a 5-year period, utilizing Talen-owned land and legacy fossil generation and transmission infrastructure.
Secondly, apart from generating further value to Talen’s portfolio, this new energy storage projects come out from the company’s ESG strategy; in particular out of its Force for Good strategy, which intends to decarbonize its asset base while investing in communities and provide job opportunities for its people.
Thirdly, in this regard, the projects will leverage from the company’s advantaged asset footprint and legacy transmission interconnection assets; including those within densely populated areas with high power demand.
Consequently, the storage projects will support the grid and will make it more resilient; this will further support Talen’s phasing out facilities that once were fired with coal, carbon fuels and natural gas, to be now powered with renewable energy.
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Talen Energy to start construction in 2021 4Q
Moreover, as said above, the first two projects will be 20 MW demonstration projects, adjacent to Talen’s H.A Wagner plant, in Baltimore; and also, the Camden plant, in New Jersey. In fact, the H.A. Wagner generation facility is among the coal-fired facilities that Talen announced will cease burning coal by the end of 2025.
In addition, the battery storage capacity in Camden will support its natural gas generation. According to Talen Energy’s report. These two projects will start construction in the fourth quarter of 2021.
On the other hand, Talen Energy president, Alex Hernandez, said. “These battery projects, together with Talen’s existing zero carbon nuclear baseload generation, are intended to serve as a backstop for renewables’ intermittency; ensuring that power is available when needed.”
Finally, Cole Muller, head of Talen’s PJM generation business, remarked. “Our H.A. Wagner battery storage demonstration project will serve as a strong example of how batteries of the future are a key component to the clean energy transition; and will contribute to grid stability and resiliency.”
