By Editors of Power Engineering

Gulf Power, along with its corporate parent, Southern Company, officially launched the McCrary Battery Energy Storage Demonstration.

The test site, at Gulf Power’s Douglas L. McCrary Training and Storm Center in Pensacola, Florida, will test and evaluate a 250 KW/1MWh Tesla Powerpack lithium-ion industrial energy storage system.

Information gained from the demonstration is expected to accelerate the development of battery storage technology across the Southern Company system and help industrial and commercial customers store and use energy on demand.

Specifically, the project will further the understanding of the siting, installation and operational requirements of commercial- and industrial-scale energy storage systems. It will also provide information on the advantages battery storage can offer customers and energy providers through peak shaving, demand management, ancillary services, energy arbitrage and backup power.

“Gulf Power is proud to be involved in this battery energy storage demonstration at the McCrary Training and Storm Center and to be in the forefront of evaluating innovative energy technologies,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power chairman, president and CEO.  “Throughout our history, we have been host to the development of energy solutions that have resulted in greater energy efficiency, cleaner energy production, and value for our customers – and this commissioning event signals our on-going commitment to build a better energy future.”