Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) recently announced that crews installed the first battery storage components at the FPL Manatee Energy Storage Center, which will be the largest solar-powered battery storage facility in the world.

Located in Parrish, Fla., the FPL Manatee Energy Storage Center is expected to begin serving customers later this year. With 409 MW of output and 900 MWh of capacity, the energy storage system will be able to power the equivalent of 329,000 homes for more than 2 hours and enable customers to enjoy the benefits of solar even when the sun is not shining, such as at night or during inclement weather.

"This innovative and world record-breaking battery is yet another example of how FPL executes on bold ideas to continue delivering customers America's best energy value - electricity that's not just clean and reliable, but also affordable," said Eric Silagy, FPL president and CEO. "Energy storage is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to building on our rapid solar expansion and delivering a brighter, more sustainable energy future that all of us can depend on, including the next generation. But the Manatee Energy Storage Center isn't just bringing the Sunshine State one step closer to around-the-clock solar power, it is also helping turn Florida into a world leader in clean energy and sustainability."

The newly installed storage container is the first of 132 units that will ultimately be installed onsite. Each unit weighs approximately 38 tons, is roughly 36 feet long by 11 feet in height and width and will hold roughly 400 battery modules, with each battery module being equivalent to about 2,000 iPhone batteries. The battery modules will store the extra solar energy produced by the neighboring FPL Manatee Solar Energy Center when the sun's rays are strongest and send it to the grid when there is a higher demand for electricity.

For several years, FPL and its sister companies have researched battery storage technology to study a variety of potential benefits, from grid stabilization to improved solar integration. In 2018, FPL unveiled the largest combined operating solar and storage power plant at Babcock Ranch in Charlotte County. Soon, Florida will also be home to the world's largest solar-powered battery storage facility.

Today, FPL operates 41 solar energy centers across more than 20 Florida counties. In addition to completing the world's largest solar-powered battery storage facility by the end of this year, FPL is also in the midst of constructing nine additional solar energy centers. By the end of the decade, FPL forecasts that nearly 40% of the company's power will be generated by zero-emissions energy sources - a more than 65% increase from 2020.

Source: Florida Power & Light Company