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Dominion Energy Virginia proposes the Darbytown Storage Pilot Project to extend battery discharge times.
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The project seeks to test innovative battery technologies with the potential to discharge energy for multiple days.
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This initiative aligns with Dominion Energy's larger efforts to promote clean energy, including developing the largest offshore wind project in the U.S.
Dominion Energy Virginia has recently submitted a groundbreaking proposal to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), unveiling the Darbytown Storage Pilot Project. This initiative aims to revolutionize battery storage capabilities, potentially extending the duration for which batteries can discharge electricity into the grid significantly.
The Darbytown Storage Pilot Project will test two innovative technologies that could serve as viable alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries, offering enhanced safety features for energy storage. One of these technologies has the potential to discharge energy over multiple days, a stark contrast to the current industry standard where most batteries, both within Dominion Energy's fleet and nationwide, are limited to discharging energy for a maximum of four hours.
This proposal arrives at a pivotal juncture for Dominion Energy, coinciding with their development of the largest offshore wind project in the United States and the continuous expansion of the second-largest solar fleet in the nation.
According to Ed Baine, President of Dominion Energy Virginia, they were making the grid increasingly clean in Virginia through historic investments in offshore wind and solar. He further mentioned that with longer-duration batteries in the mix, the project could represent a transformational step forward, aiding in the safe discharge of stored energy when it is most needed by their customers.
The Darbytown Storage Pilot Project is set to be located at the existing Darbytown Power Station in Henrico County. It will assess two alternative battery technologies: iron-air batteries developed by Form Energy and zinc-hybrid batteries by Eos Energy Enterprises. Form Energy's iron-air technology stands out with the remarkable ability to discharge energy for up to 100 hours, a substantial improvement over current market offerings.
To come to fruition, the project requires SCC approval and development plan approval from Henrico County. If granted the green light, construction is slated to commence by late 2024, with the project becoming operational by late 2026. This initiative will further augment Dominion Energy Virginia's growing portfolio of battery storage facilities, complementing the three already operational in Powhatan, New Kent, and Hanover counties. Moreover, the company is actively progressing on three additional large-scale battery storage facilities in Chesterfield County, Sussex County, and Dulles International Airport in Loudoun County.