Boosting Grid Reliability
Illinois Regulators Approve 600 Megawatts of New Battery Storage Projects
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Illinois regulators approved 600 megawatts of new utility-scale battery storage projects expected to come online by 2030, enough capacity to serve roughly half a million homes and more than four times the state’s current installed utility-scale storage. The procurement, conducted under the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, secured less than the 1,038 megawatts initially sought, including 520 megawatts in central and southern Illinois and 80 megawatts in the northern part of the state. Renewable-energy advocates nonetheless called the auction a major step toward improving grid reliability, affordability and the integration of solar and wind power. Illinois plans additional procurement rounds and is targeting at least 3,000 megawatts of storage by the end of 2030, including systems paired with new renewable projects. The state is also expanding programs that allow homes and businesses with solar panels and batteries to supply excess electricity to the grid during periods of high demand.
Key Points
1
Illinois currently has 141 megawatts of utility-scale battery storage installed, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, making the newly approved projects more than four times the existing capacity.
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The 520 megawatts approved in central and southern Illinois will serve the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) territory, while the 80 megawatts in northern Illinois will be connected through the PJM grid.
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Advanced Energy United’s Illinois policy advocacy lead, Brett Sproul, said the technology is already being developed and called the 600-megawatt procurement “a huge step forward for Illinois” and a success for affordability and reliability despite falling short of the initial target.
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Regulators are expected to review the storage program’s progress later this year as part of a new statewide energy-planning process.
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