ComEd, in partnership with the US Department of Energy (DOE), celebrated the commissioning of a new battery-energy storage system in Rockford, Illinois. This installation is part of a $6.5 million project to support solar energy integration and improve grid resiliency. The project received funding from the DOE’s Enabling Extreme Real-Time Grid Integration of Solar Energy (ENERGISE) program, with contributions from ComEd and project partners.
The new system is a pilot project combining battery storage with a customer-owned solar array at Prairie Street Brewing. The goal is to test distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) to help integrate private solar generation with grid-connected storage. This approach optimizes solar usage, stores excess energy, enhances grid resilience, benefiting the local community, and advancing clean energy goals.
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Investing in Clean Energy and Grid Modernization
Gil C. Quiniones, President and CEO of ComEd said, “Building on our nation-leading reliability and resiliency, ComEd continues to invest in modernizing and strengthening the grid our customers rely on.”
He added, “Exploratory pilot projects like this one are crucial to ensuring the grid is fully prepared to support large-scale solar and battery energy storage solutions that are key to the clean energy future in northern Illinois.”
Installed by the Koch family in 2020, the solar panels at Prairie Street Brewing help the brewery reduce energy costs. The new battery system, located half a mile from the brewery, stores excess solar energy and connects to the grid. The project benefits the brewery and showcases how combining solar and battery storage can support local businesses and communities.
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Supporting Illinois’ Clean Energy Goals
The pilot will investigate renewable smoothing methods to ensure consistent solar power availability. Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act aligns with these efforts, aiming for a carbon-free economy by 2050.
The DOE’s ENERGISE program funds the Rockford project along with 11 other similar initiatives across the US. The battery system is set for commissioning in December 2024, with testing running through January 2025. This deployment strengthens Rockford’s Community of the Future status, piloting advanced energy technologies to improve sustainability and grid reliability.
The city has drawn substantial solar investments and secured a $50 million DOE grant to improve grid resiliency. Furthermore, Rockford focuses on STEM and workforce training programs to equip residents for emerging careers in clean energy.