Republican Rep. John Szoka of Cumberland County been
criticized by some on the political right for sponsoring a bill that he says
could vastly grow the amount of solar-powered electricity production in North
Carolina.
On Wednesday Szoka addressed one of complaints by bringing
the representative of industrial battery maker Alevo to the legislature to make
a presentation about its products. Alevo's batteries are designed to store
electricity for utility companies, including electricity from solar farms and
wind farms, to help them maintain a consistent supply.
“One of the criticisms that I’ve received is always, ’What
happens when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow?’ because of the
intermittency of the power,” Szoka said. “This is what happens when you find a
technological answer to a technological problem -- then there’s your answer.”
The Swiss-based Alevo, whose U.S. headquarters is in a
former cigarette manufacturing plant in Concord north of Charlotte, is developing
battery packs the size of bulk shipping containers. Company vice president
Jeffrey Gates discussed its work and plans before a group of about 60 people
that included lawmakers, legislative staff and others.
Alevo’s products aren’t just for renewables such as solar
and wind power plants, Gates said. The company says its batteries can reduce
the costs of operating traditional coal, natural gas and nuclear power plants.
Its equipment is intended to store excess electricity generated in off-peak
times, such as at night, and then inject the power into the grid during periods
of peak usage that strain the utilities’ generation capacity.
The company has been in discussions with Duke Energy, the
state’s largest electric utility, Gates said, and it will soon be shipping
batteries to clients in China and Turkey.
It hopes to announce additional customers by the end of the
year, he said.
Gates said the company operates in North Carolina without
monetary incentives from the government -- it doesn’t want any, he said. But it
would like the state to adjust its utility regulations to encourage Duke to
operate a large-scale experimental trial with Alevo.
Gates suggested that the state could give Duke permission to
pass along to rate-payers the costs if the experiment fails. If the experiment
succeeds, the company could pass along the savings to the customers, he said.
Duke spokesman Randy Wheeless said the companies have
talked, but could not address any legislation that Alevo may want.
Duke is already using and experimenting with battery
storage, Wheeless said. The company has 15 percent of all the grid-connected
battery storage in the country, he said.
Gates cited some of Duke’s projects, including several in
North Carolina, in his presentation at the legislature.
Szoka’s renewables energy bill would make it easier for
electricity customers to install solar or other renewable energy systems on
their properties.
Under existing law, a customer either has to buy from the
local electric utility or purchase and install his own alternative generation
equipment. The customer is not allowed to buy power from a third party.
It can be expensive to buy and maintain solar panels and
other equipment.
Szoka’s bill would let the customer avoid the up-front
expense and maintenance. He wants to allow people and businesses pay a third
party company to install the generation equipment. This could be a solar farm
on a large warehouse, for example.
The third party company would own the equipment on the
customer’s property and sell the power generated to the customer.
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