An aerial view of the prevailing Sherco Photo voltaic facility.
Xcel Power plans to construct the Midwest’s largest battery power storage website on the Sherco Power Hub in central Minnesota. This follows Xcel’s proposal to build out a battery storage network throughout Minnesota, optimizing the state’s power grid and serving to the corporate meet the rising electrical energy wants of the communities it serves.
“We’re making a major funding in battery storage as a result of we see it as a crucial a part of Minnesota’s power future,” mentioned Bria Shea, president of Xcel Power-Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “Batteries assist us retailer power when it’s cheap to provide and dispatch it when wanted, permitting us to proceed delivering dependable electrical energy to clients whereas protecting payments low.”
The proposal, filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Fee on Oct. 31, would:
- Double the quantity of battery storage adjoining to the Sherco coal plant in Becker, which is scheduled to retire by the top of 2030. The Fee beforehand accepted 300 MW of storage. The brand new proposal will increase the capability to 600 MW.
- Add 135.5 MW of battery storage on the firm’s Blue Lake facility in Shakopee.
- Develop the corporate’s Sherco Solar facility with an extra 200-MW photo voltaic array in Clear Lake Township.
If accepted, the corporate intends to begin building on the battery storage initiatives in 2026, with the batteries serving clients by late 2027. The initiatives will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell expertise, which has a powerful observe document for reliability and security. LFP batteries discharge power in four-hour increments and are fast to recharge, permitting for normal use.
The batteries will re-use present grid connections, permitting Xcel Power to retailer power produced throughout its Higher Midwest system at its wind, photo voltaic, nuclear and pure gasoline amenities and launch it during times of excessive demand.
“For half a century, LIUNA members have saved the lights on in Minnesota by constructing and sustaining Sherco coal models. At present, we’re proud to rework the plant right into a clear power hub—pounding posts for photo voltaic panels, planting pollinator habitat, and setting up pads for battery storage,” mentioned Joel Smith, president and enterprise supervisor of the Laborers’ Worldwide Union of North America — Minnesota and North Dakota. “In our work with Xcel Power, we’re assembly Minnesota’s local weather objectives whereas supporting native employees and communities.“
Xcel Power expects the initiatives will qualify for federal tax credit (offsetting 30% of the associated fee for the Blue Lake battery and 40% for the Sherco battery initiatives and Sherco Photo voltaic, that are in an power group). The corporate passes these tax credit on to clients within the type of decrease payments.
Sherco Photo voltaic
Sherco Photo voltaic is the Higher Midwest’s largest photo voltaic producing facility. It has a powerful document of delivering carbon-free electrical energy for purchasers because it went into service in 2024. The primary two phases are already on-line, with a 3rd section beneath building and scheduled to begin producing electrical energy for purchasers in 2026.
Xcel Power’s proposal so as to add a fourth section to Sherco Photo voltaic would deliver the ability’s complete producing capability to 910 MW by 2029. The enlargement will create an estimated 300 union building jobs and $90 million in native financial advantages.
Information merchandise from Xcel Power
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