- USA’s Florida Power and Light Company (FPL) has installed the first of more than 50,000 battery modules that will make up the world’s largest solar-powered battery when complete.
- The FPL Manatee Energy Storage Centre will have a 409MW capacity with the ability to deliver 900 MWh of energy – enough to power 329,000 homes for more than two hours.
FPL has announced that crews have installed the first battery modules for the Manatee Energy Storage Centre – the world’s largest solar-powered battery storage facility – which is now 75% finished with 100 of 132 total containers already installed.
Charged by the existing Manatee Solar Energy Centre, the battery will increase the predictability of solar – extending its benefits even when the sun’s not shining, such as at night or on a cloudy day. By deploying energy from the batteries when there is higher demand for electricity, FPL will offset the need to run other power plants – further reducing emissions and saving customers money through avoided fuel costs.
Each battery module weighs more than 200 pounds and is capable of storing an amount of solar energy equivalent to roughly 2,000 iPhone batteries. Combined, the battery system will be equivalent to approximately 100 million iPhone batteries. In addition to installing the project’s first battery modules, FPL announced the company has already installed 100 of 132 energy storage containers and set all 132 of the project’s inverters.
Ultimately, the battery system will consist of 132 energy storage containers organized across a 40-acre plot of land, or the equivalent of 30 football fields. Each container will hold roughly 400 battery modules, which will be charged by the neighbouring FPL Manatee Solar Energy Center. FPL expects the battery to begin serving customers later this year.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
