Duke Energy Florida has started a pilot program in the Hunter’s Creek neighborhood of Orlando to study how home battery energy storage systems can help manage electricity demand and support the power grid. The initiative involves more than 75 single-family homes where Generac battery systems have been installed.
The batteries serve as both backup power during outages and as tools for managing energy use. Under normal circumstances, the batteries either remain idle or charge during off-peak hours. In the event of a power outage, they automatically provide backup electricity to the home. On days when energy demand is high, Duke Energy can direct all participating batteries to discharge power for one to three hours, helping reduce stress on the grid. These demand response events are scheduled based on anticipated system needs throughout the pilot.
Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy Florida, said: “This pilot helps us better understand how home battery systems can support both our customers and the electric system during times of high demand. By learning from this project, we can explore practical ways to use energy more efficiently while continuing to provide reliable service to the communities we serve.”
The company will collect data over a 10-year period to evaluate when and how residential battery systems are most effective at lowering energy consumption and grid demand. Homeowners taking part in the program do not need to alter their daily routines or see changes in their utility bills; stored energy from their batteries powers their homes at standard rates without interruption.
Participants will also benefit from having access to stored energy during service interruptions such as those caused by hurricanes, allowing them to maintain power in select areas until normal service resumes.
Duke Energy Florida provides electricity across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida and serves about 2 million customers with 12,500 megawatts of capacity. Its parent company, Duke Energy, is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and supplies electricity and natural gas across several states.
Further details about Duke Energy’s initiatives are available at duke-energy.com and through its various social media channels.
