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Duke combines solar, storage in smart grid trial

Duke Energy detailed on Tuesday a smart grid program that pushes power generation and storage to edge of the transmission network. The company is testing what it calls a "virtual power plant" at a substation in Charlotte, North Carolina that it hopes will allow it to use electricity more efficiently. The substation--where electricity is distributed to a local neighborhood--is equipped with a 50 kilowatt solar array, enough to supply at least five homes when operating. The 213 solar panels either feed electricity directly to the grid or to a 500 kilowatt zinc-bromide battery. More...

06-17-2009 07:05