Enel adds 369 MW of energy storage in Texas this summer

Enel North America, part of Italian utility Enel (BIT:ENEL), has added five battery energy storage systems totalling 369 MW/555 MWh to the Texas grid this summer, more than tripling its operational utility-scale storage capacity, according to an announcement today.

Enel now has 520 MW/780 MWh of battery storage in operation in the state and another 823 MW/1,234 MWh under construction.

"With extreme heat propelling Texas' energy demand to record-breaking levels, the addition of these five new battery storage systems couldn't have come at a better time," said Paolo Romanacci, head of Enel North America's renewable energy business.

The new additions include 59-MW/89-MWh batteries at each of Enel's Blue Jay Solar project near Iola and Roseland Solar project near Riesel; two 57-MW/86 MWh batteries at the High Lonesome Wind and Roadrunner Solar projects near McCamey; and a 137-MW/206-MWh battery at the Azure Sky Wind project near Throckmorton.

All of the company’s utility-scale batteries participate in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)'s Ancillary Services, releasing electricity during grid emergencies to help avoid blackouts and support the grid's frequency on a daily basis. Its seven operating systems store up to 325 MW at all times that can aid the grid within seconds.

The company said that in response to an ERCOT alert on September 6, its batteries delivered around 524 MWh to the grid, while its wind and solar portfolio in Texas generated about 19.9 GWh throughout the day. Additionally, Enel's demand response (DR) portfolio provided about 145 MW of critical load relief.

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