Irrigation farmers store wind power with batteries
The Department of Energy (DOE)-funded project will allow the district to store up to 25 megawatts of wind power for use during times of peak demand, rather than just when the wind blows.
According to the Modesto Bee, the batteries will be installed and ready to use during the next growing season. Melissa Williams, MID spokesperson, said, "Our role is to test this technology in real-world conditions. With cost-effective technology for storing industrial-size amounts of energy, we could more widely use renewable power."
Twenty-five megawatts represents only a small portion of total peak electricity demand — which can top 600 megawatts on a summer day — needed for local crop production, but it will displace at least some of the power now being generated from natural gas.
Tom Stepien of Primus Power Corp., manufacturers of the batteries, said, "This will allow MID to run their equipment in a cost-effective, uniform and less polluting manner."
The battery storage test is part of DOE's $620 million smart grid demonstration and energy storage projects. Primus and MID will also contribute funding.
Related News

Global Energy War Escalates: Price Hikes and Instability
LONDON - Russia's targeting of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has unleashed an "energy war" that could lead to widespread price increases, supply disruptions, and ripple effects throughout the global energy market.
This highlights the unprecedented scale and severity of the attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. These attacks have disrupted power supplies, hindered oil and gas production, and damaged refineries, impacting Ukraine and the broader global energy system.
Energy as a Weapon
Experts claim that Russia's deliberate attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure represent a strategic escalation, demonstrating the Kremlin's willingness to weaponize energy as part of its war effort. By…