AUSTIN, TX and BERLIN, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Jun 30, 2015) - Younicos Inc. has entered into an agreement with Duke Energy Renewables and Samsung SDI to provide design, engineering, construction, software integration, and testing services for the repowering of the Notrees Battery Storage facility in Texas. The first phase of the 36 MW repowered facility, which is North America's largest wind-integrated battery plant, is expected to go online in Q1 2016.
The agreement calls for Younicos to install a hybrid storage control platform to support the deployment of new lithium-ion batteries from Samsung SDI, along with post-implementation engineering services. These new batteries will operate in combination with advanced lead-acid technology currently in use at the site. It will be the first use of lithium-ion technology in the Fast-Responding Regulation Service market (FRRS), under Texas grid operator ERCOT's current market rule framework.
The Notrees system has been in operation since 2012, and has been actively participating in ERCOT's FRRS market since commissioning. The introduction of lithium-ion batteries will increase duration of discharge at the facility, enabling it to expand service delivery in the FRRS market. It will also have the capability to provide additional fast-responding services currently under development by ERCOT as part of its ancillary service market redesign.
James P. McDougall, Younicos CEO: "Younicos performs extensive engineering analysis and software simulations at our Technology Centers to continuously innovate and identify optimal solutions for intelligent storage applications. The result is this next generation of control systems at Notrees. We applaud Duke Energy's continued leadership in energy storage adoption. We're excited to work on this project with both Duke and Samsung SDI, with whom we have a long track record of successful project deployments."
Greg Wolf, President Commercial Portfolio, Duke Energy, said, "The Notrees Energy Storage Project is an important partnership with Younicos, Samsung SDI, the Department of Energy and ERCOT. This reinvestment will extend the life of the project and expand the value it provides to the market."
Woochan Kim, Senior Vice President of Samsung SDI Energy Storage, shared: "Duke Energy's Notrees Energy Storage System (ESS) is a landmark of the U.S. energy storage industry. With our most innovative lithium-ion battery technology, we are proud to provide a new heart to the ESS, and join forces with the Younicos team, who bring unsurpassed integration and software expertise in deploying and optimizing such a system."
Audrey Fogarty, Younicos VP of Product Management, added, "This new hybrid control system we've developed will accommodate planned battery replacements and new chemistry enhancements over time, as it maintains ongoing operations of the storage system. While the batteries themselves can be considered the heart of a storage resource, our sophisticated Energy Storage Management System is the intelligence -- ensuring optimal deployment of the batteries to add value to the environment and market."
About Notrees
The Notrees Windpower Project is a 153 MW facility in West Texas owned and operated by Duke Energy Renewables. The 36 MW Younicos-designed battery plant works with the output of the wind farm, stabilizing the frequency of electricity on the grid. Thanks to Younicos' intelligent control software, the system can also provide other ancillary services such as ramp control, frequency response, and voltage support.
About Younicos
Younicos is a global leader for intelligent energy storage and grid solutions. Clients benefit from technical expertise, commercial know-how and in-depth experience built on nearly 100 megawatts installed in more than 20 energy storage projects worldwide. The company was founded in 2005 in Berlin, Germany, and currently employs more than 120 storage enthusiasts there and in Kyle and Austin, Texas (USA). For more information visit www.younicos.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Duke Energy Renewables
Duke Energy Renewables, part of Duke Energy's Commercial Portfolio, is a leader in developing innovative wind and solar energy generation projects for customers throughout the United States. The company's growing portfolio of commercial renewable assets includes 16 wind farms and 24 solar farms in operation in 12 states, totaling more than 2 gigawatts in electric-generating capacity. Learn more at www.duke-energy.com/renewables.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at www.duke-energy.com.
About Samsung SDI
Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., established in 1970, is an affiliate of the Samsung Group and has been the global leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for Mobile Applications. Leveraging this position, Samsung SDI is focused on the technology leadership for electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) and is recognized as the largest ESS battery supplier, according to B3, an independent research firm specialized in the lithium-ion battery industry. The company offers a broad ESS product line-up from kilowatt to megawatt for customers all over the world. For more information visit www.samsungsdi.com.
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