Battery Energy Storage
Battery energy storage delivers advantages to the power grid and our customers.
Investing in Battery Energy Storage
As one of America's largest energy infrastructure developers, NextEra Energy Resources has earned a reputation for excellence and best-in-class development skills. With our expertise, scale, size and scope of services, we have become a leader in battery energy storage.
Battery energy storage is a way to store electrical energy so it's available to meet demand whenever needed. Very simply, battery energy storage systems work by charging and discharging batteries, and are safe and reliable.
Did You Know?
We operate 50 battery energy storage sites across the U.S. and Canada, helping power millions of homes and businesses with reliable energy.
Advantages
Battery energy storage projects do not require a large area for development and can be scaled as needed. We typically site a project near existing electrical transmission or distribution systems, and often, close to an existing renewable energy project. This minimizes impact to the surrounding area.
These projects offer benefits by:
- Providing safe and renewable energy
- Enhancing the electrical grid
- Helping integrate renewable resources
- Potentially deferring expensive upgrades
Enhancing the Electrical Grid
Battery energy storage can balance load on the power grid and is capable of responding much faster than traditional fossil power plants. Energy is stored when demands are low and supplied to the power grid when demands are high.
Helping Integrate Renewable Resources
Operators can more easily bring renewable energy on and off the power grid. This reduces the need for other services that keep the grid in balance.
Potentially Deferring Expensive Upgrades
Battery energy storage can reduce loads on congested power systems and may defer expensive upgrades. The technology may also reduce the need for new power plants to meet peak energy loads.
How Battery Energy Storage Works
NextEra Energy Resources uses state-of-the-art battery energy storage systems that are safe and reliable. Here’s how they work:
- A battery management system monitors the equipment to ensure safe, reliable transfer of energy.
- A computerized monitoring system evaluates many factors, such as weather forecasts to determine when to use the energy storage system.
- In the charging cycle, energy from the power grid, or from renewable energy sources, is delivered through equipment called inverters. The inverters convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and charge the batteries.
- When the energy is needed on the power system, the inverters convert the DC from the batteries back into AC.
- This energy is stepped up in voltage and ultimately delivered to the power system.
- From there, the energy is distributed to homes, schools, businesses and other consumers.