ComEd Commissions New DOE-Funded Solar, Battery Storage in Rockford

Rhea-AI Summary

ComEd has commissioned a new battery energy storage system in Rockford as part of a $6.5 million solar and battery project, partially funded by the DOE ENERGISE program. The project combines the battery system with existing solar panels at Prairie Street Brewing Company to research distributed energy resource management systems.

The initiative, supported by $3.2 million in DOE grants and $3.3 million from ComEd and partners, aims to test renewable smoothing techniques and explore the scalability of solar and battery solutions. The battery commissioning is scheduled for December 2024, with testing running through January 2025.

ComEd has already interconnected more than 1 gigawatt of distributed energy resource capacity, including 57,780 residential rooftop solar systems, 1,582 commercial solar systems, and 150 community solar projects. This project supports Illinois' goal of 100% clean energy by 2050.

Positive

• Secured $3.2 million in DOE grant funding for the project
• Successfully interconnected over 1 gigawatt of distributed energy resource capacity
• Project advances Illinois' clean energy transition goals

Negative

• None.

Insights

Energy Infrastructure Analyst

The $6.5 million solar and battery storage pilot project represents a strategic but relatively small investment for ComEd's grid modernization efforts. The project's significance lies in its potential to scale distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) across northern Illinois. By testing renewable smoothing techniques and grid integration of private solar installations, ComEd is building important operational knowledge for achieving Illinois' 2050 clean energy goals. The DOE's $3.2 million grant contribution validates the project's importance for national grid modernization efforts. The pilot's focus on battery storage solutions is particularly relevant given ComEd's growing distributed energy resource capacity, which now exceeds 1 gigawatt including over 57,780 residential rooftop solar systems. This initiative positions ComEd favorably for the clean energy transition while maintaining grid reliability.

Utility Market Analyst

For Exelon (EXC) shareholders, this pilot project demonstrates the company's proactive approach to grid modernization and regulatory compliance. The equal cost-sharing between DOE grants and ComEd/partners indicates efficient capital deployment while minimizing shareholder burden. The project aligns with Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act requirements, potentially reducing regulatory risks. ComEd's strategic positioning in Rockford as a clean energy hub, evidenced by the recent $50 million DOE grant, suggests strong government relationships and potential for future funding opportunities. The focus on scalable DERMS solutions indicates a clear path to monetizing grid modernization investments across ComEd's 4 million customer base. This positions Exelon well for capturing value from the growing distributed energy market while maintaining its regulated utility business model.

ComEd pilot aims to explore scalability of solar and energy storage solutions to support a more resilient power grid

ROCKFORD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ComEd, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), today celebrated the commissioning of a new battery-energy storage system in Rockford. This battery system is a critical component of ComEd’s ongoing $6.5 million solar and battery energy storage project, funded in part through the DOE Enabling Extreme Real-Time Grid Integration of Solar Energy (ENERGISE) program. The pilot project pairs this new battery energy storage system with an existing customer-owned solar deployment, located at Rockford’s Prairie Street Brewing Company, and will enable ComEd’s research into distributed energy resource management systems that will support the efficient use of solar power generation and grid resiliency.

“Building on our nation-leading reliability and resiliency, ComEd continues to invest in modernizing and strengthening the grid our customers rely on,” said Gil C. Quiniones, President and CEO of ComEd. “Exploratory pilot projects like this one are crucial to ensuring the grid is fully prepared to support large-scale solar and battery energy storage solutions that are key to the clean energy future in northern Illinois.”

The test pilot, funded by $3.2 million in DOE grant funding and $3.3 million from ComEd and other project partners, will explore the benefits of distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) to support the integration of private solar panel deployments to grid-connected battery energy storage systems. The results will provide critical data to support the scalability of similar generation deployments throughout northern Illinois to encourage expanded solar generation and support a more resilient and adaptive power grid.

The solar panels, owned by the Koch family and located at local Rockford brewery Prairie Street Brewing Company, provide additional power generation for the brewery. Through this is a single-location battery test pilot, ComEd deployed a battery energy storage solution half a mile from the brewery to store power generated from the panels and better connect that energy with the community’s grid. This project is also directly supporting the brewery by maximizing the potential of their solar energy generation.

A provided statement by the Koch Family said, “Prairie Street Brewing Company and the Koch Family are excited at the opportunity to partner with ComEd on this solar and energy storage project. We installed our solar panels in 2020 and have seen great benefits for our power usage. We hope that this project helps encourage other northern Illinois businesses to explore their own solar installations which can benefit their bottom line while simultaneously supporting their communities.”

The pilot will test various renewable smoothing techniques to help ensure the power output of the solar generation is available throughout the day, and not just when the sun is shining. Data gathered from this deployment will influence future solar panel and battery energy storage solutions. Expanding and scaling these solutions will support the goals of the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which calls for the expansion of solar and other renewables to meet a goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

“The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act set Illinois on the path to a 100 percent carbon-free economy. Expanding battery storage technology is a key tool for spurring local job growth and meeting Illinois’ energy transition targets by helping to make the most out of solar generation,” said Illinois Commerce Commission Chairman Doug Scott.

Funding for this project was awarded in 2021 by the Solar Energy Technologies Office of the DOE. The Rockford battery deployment is one of 12 projects occurring throughout the country through the ENERGISE program to explore solar and battery storage solutions. Battery commissioning is taking place in December 2024 and testing of the battery system and solar panels will run through January 2025.

“The City of Rockford is honored to be home to this solar and battery storage project,” said Thomas P. McNamara, Mayor of Rockford. “We are seeing solar deployments grow in Rockford and the surrounding county, and we are excited to collaborate with ComEd to maximize the power of solar deployments in our community to further support our clean energy future.”

Solar generation continues to grow in Illinois, and to date, ComEd has interconnected more than 1 gigawatt of distributed energy resource (DER) capacity on the grid, including 57,780 residential rooftop solar systems, 1,582 commercial solar systems and 150 community solar projects. Developing additional battery storage capabilities is a critical component to help customers realize the full benefit of added solar generation in Illinois.

These new investments build on a longstanding collaboration between ComEd and Rockford, including advancements made as part of the Community of the Future (CoF) program, aimed at developing advanced energy technologies to enhance sustainability and resiliency across Rockford and the region. As a Community of the Future, Rockford has emerged as a clean energy hub, recently being named the beneficiary of a $50 million DOE grant to advance grid reliability and resiliency. Additionally, Rockford has attracted numerous solar developments, including a ComEd Give-A-Ray solar subscription program and launched various STEM and workforce training programs to help residents prepare for a growing number of clean energy careers, with programming based at ComEd’s state of the art Rockford Training Center.

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company serving more than 10.5 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206962319/en/

ComEd

Media Relations

312-394-3500

Source: ComEd

FAQ

What is the total cost of ComEd's solar and battery storage project in Rockford (EXC)?

The total cost of ComEd's solar and battery storage project in Rockford is $6.5 million, with $3.2 million from DOE grants and $3.3 million from ComEd and project partners.

When will ComEd (EXC) complete the battery testing phase in Rockford?

The battery testing phase will run through January 2025, following the battery commissioning in December 2024.

How many solar systems has ComEd (EXC) interconnected to date?

ComEd has interconnected 57,780 residential rooftop solar systems, 1,582 commercial solar systems, and 150 community solar projects, totaling over 1 gigawatt of distributed energy resource capacity.

What is the purpose of ComEd's (EXC) battery storage system in Rockford?

The battery storage system aims to explore distributed energy resource management systems, support solar power integration, and enhance grid resiliency while testing renewable smoothing techniques.