- Upgrades add 320 megawatts of capacity to the company's
largest "battery"
- Bad Creek pumped storage technology supports the operational
needs of Duke Energy's system, particularly as more solar is
added
- The station can now power more than 1.3 million
homes
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As strong economic development
successes and population growth power the Carolinas' energy needs,
Duke Energy's goal is to ensure energy reliability for its
customers.
Duke Energy recently completed upgrades to the four units at the
Bad Creek pumped storage facility in Salem, S.C. The upgrades add a total of 320
megawatts of carbon-free energy to the company's system and brings
the total capacity of the station to 1,680 megawatts.
A flexible, dynamic, efficient and green way to store and
deliver large quantities of energy, pumped storage hydro plants
store and generate energy by moving water between two reservoirs at
different elevations.
Coming online in 1991, Bad Creek is designed to produce
significant amounts of energy when our customers need it most,
performing a vital role as the largest "battery" on the company's
system.
"This investment in Bad Creek demonstrates our commitment to
improving reliability across the Carolinas. Pumped storage
technology gives us operational flexibility, allowing us to store
energy and then deploy that energy when customer demand is
highest," said Preston Gillespie,
executive vice president and chief generation officer and
enterprise operational excellence. "Expanding our energy storage
capabilities is just one of the many steps we are taking in the
next phase of our energy transition."
The units were upgraded in phases, adding 80 MW of capacity to
each new pump turbine. Unit 2 was completed in 2020, unit 1 was
completed in 2021, unit three was completed in 2023 and unit 4 was
completed in April.
Duke Energy is currently working to extend the license of the
Bad Creek pumped hydro storage facility, which is set to expire in
2027. In addition to this upgrade project, Duke Energy is
evaluating the potential to add a second powerhouse at Bad Creek
that would further help Duke Energy add capacity to the
system as well as address increasing system variability, from
the growth of solar and customer usage, in a reliable and
affordable way. If pursued, the second powerhouse could be
in-service as earlier as 2034.
"From population growth to the expansion of manufacturing and
other major economic development wins, the Carolinas are booming,"
said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's
South Carolina president. "We must
have a diverse energy mix to account for this growth on the coldest
winter nights and the warmest summer days. We continue to look at
solutions like expanding Bad Creek to make sure the power is there
when customers need it, and it is as affordable as possible –
providing certainty as they go about their daily lives."
Expanding operations at Bad Creek also provides significant
economic benefits of $7.3
billion to South Carolina, as
the state benefits from construction and general infrastructure
activity, by 2033.
Downloadable b-roll of Bad Creek is available for use.
Please courtesy credit: "Duke Energy"
Duke Energy Carolinas
Duke Energy Carolinas, a
subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 20,700 megawatts of energy
capacity, supplying electricity to 2.9 million residential,
commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile
service area in North Carolina and
South Carolina.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150
company headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies.
The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.7 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition,
keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the
forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions
from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions
from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in
major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including
expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and advanced
nuclear.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and
the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook,
and visit illumination for stories about the people and
innovations powering our energy transition.
Contact: Ben Williamson
Office: 770.362.4854
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy