Advanced microgrid technology automatically keeps the lights on when outages occur
EDITOR’S NOTE: For photos of the Trenton microgrid, please click here.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Duke Energy Florida has launched its second large-scale battery facility, capable of providing backup power to the local community to prevent outages. The site is located in Trenton, located 30 miles west of Gainesville in Gilchrist County.
How it works
The 11-megawatt Trenton lithium battery facility was first placed into operation in 2022 to store energy, balance demand and defer traditional power grid improvements. This summer, Duke Energy Florida upgraded the facility so that approximately 1,500 customers in the surrounding area can receive backup power for up to four hours, reducing long-duration outages and further supporting overall reliability, grid operations and critical services.
When the battery detects an outage, it automatically disconnects from the electric grid to supply backup power to neighboring customers. The concept is referred to as “islanding” or a microgrid. The facility functions like a large-scale generator for the community, providing backup power in much the same way a standard generator supports a single home or business.
The company’s first Florida microgrid was located in the Alachua County town of Micanopy. Duke Energy Florida currently owns, operates and maintains a total of six battery facilities throughout the state, which store power for use during high demand periods.
Powering homes and businesses in any type of weather
This microgrid technology is one of many investments Duke Energy Florida has made to help create a stronger, more resilient electric grid on behalf of its two million customers.
Over the last five years, the company has upgraded 60% of wooden transmission poles to stronger materials. Approximately 50% of the distribution system is underground, protected from the elements and making the lines easier to get to if outages do occur. Over 82% of customers are also served by self-healing technology, which automatically detects outages and re-routes power to the lines, preventing millions of minutes of outages every year.
Our view
“We are continually making smart grid investments to improve reliability for our customers, while keeping costs as low as possible,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “This second microgrid in Trenton lets us supply backup power directly to the local community, helping to keep our customers powered when they need it most.”
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.
More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.
Media Contact: Laitin Sterling
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