AEP installs megawatt battery

American Electric Power and two corporate partners recently finalised an agreement to install the first megawatt-class advanced energy storage technology to be used on a US distribution system.

A 1.2-megawatt, stationary sodium sulphur (NAS) battery-based system will be installed at an Appalachian Power substation near Charleston, West Virginia, and will be operating by early summer of 2006, before summer peak demand. Appalachian Power is an AEP operating unit. The installation is expected to delay the need for equipment upgrades to the facility by six to seven years, allowing that capital expense to be deferred.

AEP’s partners in the agreement are Japan’s NGK Insulators (NGK) and Chicago-based S&C Electric Company. NGK’s NAS Battery Division will provide the NAS battery and S&C’s Power Quality Products Division will supply the power electronics and serve as system integrator.

The US Department of Energy (DOE), through Sandia National Laboratories, is a supporting sponsor and will contribute to the funding of the project.