This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
September 24, 2003
World's Largest Utility Battery System Installed in Alaska
The world's largest battery energy storage system began operating near Fairbanks, Alaska, in late August. When complete, the grid-connected system will combine 13,670 nickel-cadmium battery cells to generate up to 40 megawatts of power for about 7 minutes, or 27 megawatts of power for 15 minutes. Currently three of four battery strings are operating, and the fourth will be added by year-end. The system, operated by the Golden Valley Electrical Association (GVEA), is expected to reduce power blackouts on the local power grid by more than 60 percent. Saft provided the batteries for the system, and ABB provided the power equipment to connect it to the local power grid. See the August 27th press release on the ABB Web site. Additional information is posted on the GVEA and Saft Web sites.
