OPPD Battery Storage Project (BRIGHT)
The future is very BRIGHT indeed as OPPD embarks on its first battery storage project called BRIGHT (Battery Research Innovation Guided by High-Potential Technologies). In September 2019, OPPD applied for a Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) grant to support a project on battery storage.
The utility was officially awarded the $600,000 grant on June 11, 2020, and it is grateful to NET for the support. This is the largest grant OPPD has received from NET.
The BRIGHT project was approved by the Nebraska Power Review Board in July 2021 as the first stand-alone battery in the state. The research conducted in the project will help the utility understand the procurement, construction and operations of small energy-storage applications and how to scale for potential future applications. The grant funding enables OPPD to perform research that will benefit not only OPPD, but other Nebraska utilities, as well. Prior to this project, OPPD did not have any experience with utility-scale battery storage.
The grant funds will partially cover the cost of the 1 megawatt (MW) battery for this project. Typically batteries of the size are housed in 20 to 40-foot shipping containers. The grant didn’t specify which battery technology should be used. This flexibility allowed OPPD to evaluate all possible options before selecting a Lithium ion battery for this project.
The battery will be housed at a Cass County substation near Weeping Water, NE. OPPD’s system planners say that location is a good fit because of the substation’s loading profile, electrical configuration, and the opportunity to try out use cases of the battery that will have a positive impact on the surrounding area.
OPPD is planning to build a battery energy storage device with a 1 megawatt-hour capacity, with a two-hour duration, meaning it will initially provide 1 MW of power for up to approximately two hours.
The district has taken an important step toward bringing the project to life, selecting WEG Electric Corp. to engineer, procure and construct (EPC) the BRIGHT project. OPPD awarded the EPC contract to WEG in early December 2021.
WEG was selected for the EPC contract after a series of workshops and a request for proposals evaluation with multiple vendors. The company will provide all engineering, equipment, construction, commissioning, maintenance and warranty services for the battery energy storage system, which is designed to last about 20 years.
WEG will provide the battery container with lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cells. The selected battery containers use a liquid cooling system to regulate the battery packs and include multiple levels of integrated fire protection.
The battery project became operational in March 2023.
As part of OPPD’s commitment to stakeholder engagement and as part of NET’s mission to share project information, OPPD encourages the public to check back for continued project updates.
The BRIGHT Project is partially funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, which is funded by proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery. Since 1994, more than $320 million has been awarded to conservation.
OPPD Battery Storage Project (BRIGHT)
The future is very BRIGHT indeed as OPPD embarks on its first battery storage project called BRIGHT (Battery Research Innovation Guided by High-Potential Technologies). In September 2019, OPPD applied for a Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) grant to support a project on battery storage.
The utility was officially awarded the $600,000 grant on June 11, 2020, and it is grateful to NET for the support. This is the largest grant OPPD has received from NET.
The BRIGHT project was approved by the Nebraska Power Review Board in July 2021 as the first stand-alone battery in the state. The research conducted in the project will help the utility understand the procurement, construction and operations of small energy-storage applications and how to scale for potential future applications. The grant funding enables OPPD to perform research that will benefit not only OPPD, but other Nebraska utilities, as well. Prior to this project, OPPD did not have any experience with utility-scale battery storage.
The grant funds will partially cover the cost of the 1 megawatt (MW) battery for this project. Typically batteries of the size are housed in 20 to 40-foot shipping containers. The grant didn’t specify which battery technology should be used. This flexibility allowed OPPD to evaluate all possible options before selecting a Lithium ion battery for this project.
The battery will be housed at a Cass County substation near Weeping Water, NE. OPPD’s system planners say that location is a good fit because of the substation’s loading profile, electrical configuration, and the opportunity to try out use cases of the battery that will have a positive impact on the surrounding area.
OPPD is planning to build a battery energy storage device with a 1 megawatt-hour capacity, with a two-hour duration, meaning it will initially provide 1 MW of power for up to approximately two hours.
The district has taken an important step toward bringing the project to life, selecting WEG Electric Corp. to engineer, procure and construct (EPC) the BRIGHT project. OPPD awarded the EPC contract to WEG in early December 2021.
WEG was selected for the EPC contract after a series of workshops and a request for proposals evaluation with multiple vendors. The company will provide all engineering, equipment, construction, commissioning, maintenance and warranty services for the battery energy storage system, which is designed to last about 20 years.
WEG will provide the battery container with lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cells. The selected battery containers use a liquid cooling system to regulate the battery packs and include multiple levels of integrated fire protection.
The battery project became operational in March 2023.
As part of OPPD’s commitment to stakeholder engagement and as part of NET’s mission to share project information, OPPD encourages the public to check back for continued project updates.
The BRIGHT Project is partially funded through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, which is funded by proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery. Since 1994, more than $320 million has been awarded to conservation.
