US energy company DTE Energy has announced it will convert a portion of its retired Trenton Channel coal power plant site to house a 220MW battery energy storage facility.
The conversion is expected to be complete by 2026, with the energy storage centre set to become the largest stand-alone battery storage facility in the Great Lakes region of northern US, according to the company.
DTE said that the new facility, known as the Trenton Channel Energy Centre, will support DTE’s CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan and Michigan’s new statewide energy storage target, which both align with its net zero carbon-reduction goals. In times of excess generation, the facility will store electricity and distribute it to customers by demand.
Jerry Norcia, chairman and chief executive of DTE Energy, said: “Today, roughly one-third of all electricity generated by DTE comes from carbon-free resources. Our world-class solar, wind and nuclear generation facilities are delivering reliable and clean electricity to our customers, and the Trenton Channel Energy Centre is a significant milestone in accelerating our clean energy journey.”
DTE has made significant strides to expand its clean energy portfolio in recent years. In February, the company announced that it is seeking proposals for renewable energy projects in Michigan to add 1GW of capacity for the state.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will offset the cost of the Trenton Channel site’s conversion by $140m through tax incentives and infrastructure investment provisions. Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer said: “DTE’s new Trenton Channel Energy Centre will help us strengthen our grid and produce more clean power when it is less costly and store it for later when we need it.
“DTE got this done with support from the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, further shoring up their position as Michigan’s top producer of renewable energy. Thanks to projects like today’s, strong federal leadership, and the Michigan Legislature’s clean energy and jobs package I signed into law last year, our future is bright.”
With the US presidential elections ahead, Michigan, historically a swing state, remains an important voting ground for the country.
