Energy Storage System Battery Commissioned
Group NIRE Commissions ESS Battery through ARPA-E Project Titled CHARGES

Lubbock, TX, November 15, 2017— Group NIRE installed Energy Storage System (ESS) battery at their field site located on Reese Technology Center on November 15. The ESS battery commissioning is in part of the Cycling Hardware to Analyze and Ready Grid-Scale Electricity Storage project that is funded by the Department of Energy. The project was granted to Group NIRE in partnership with DNV GL in 2015 to test energy storage over the next four years through ARPA-E energy storage systems. Group NIRE is now an established testing facility within the CHARGES program with the new ESS battery being commissioned.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to test these cutting-edge storage technologies and fulfil ARPA-e’s intent of achieving independent validation of their capability. In addition, it has been a pleasure working with Group NIRE’s extensive test capabilities to demonstrate real world performance for these systems,” DNV GL Energy Storage Leader, Davion Hill, said.

What sets Group NIRE apart from other testing sites is that it provides real-world testing rather than having simulated and controlled environments. At Group NIRE’s field site the energy that is stored in the ESS battery is generated through various solar panels which is then transferred and stored in the battery. Group NIRE is excited about this new commissioning as it signifies another big step in propelling the industry forward.

“We are excited to integrate the ESS battery as part of the CHARGES program and pair with an existing 150kW GLEAMM Solar facility,” Group NIRE Director of Project Development, Destiny Rosales, said.

Energy storage is crucial to the solar energy industry. Since solar energy can only be produced and generated during the day and the energy needs to be stored for it to not be wasted later when the sun sets. This ESS battery and the testing that Group NIRE provides for manufacturers is helping the industry develop new technology innovations to make renewable energy more efficient and sufficient for the future.