Southern California Edison get USD-25m grant for wind energy storage project

(ADPnews) - Oct 21, 2010 - US utility Southern California Edison (SCE), said on Wednesday it has closed USD-25-million (EUR 18m) financial aid agreement with the US Department of Energy for developing wind energy storage technology.

The utility, which is a unit of Edison International (NYSE:EIX), said the grant was among the 32 subsidies given under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act last year for demonstrations of smart grid technologies and integrated systems.

SCE will use the funds to improve integration of wind energy produced in southern California into the grid. The grant brings the total amount raised for the wind energy storage demonstration project to USD 54.9 million, including USD 28.9 million by SCE and its partners and USD 1 million from the California Energy Commission.

The lithium-ion battery system of the project will be installed at the beginning of 2012. The testing will last until the end of 2014 and results will be at hand at the beginning of 2015.

The project is expected to boost demand for energy storage technology.

"Cost-effective energy storage will allow for a smarter grid, facilitate integration of intermittent renewable resources and encourage job growth in the energy sector", SCE said.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.719)

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