Dairyland has received a $28M+ award from a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) cooperative agreement to strengthen grid resilience and advance the clean energy transition by bringing Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) opportunities to rural communities. Dairyland aims to bring high-benefit, low-risk energy solutions to vulnerable and underserved rural areas. Rural areas are often the last to benefit from innovation, have lower household incomes, and have limited resources to invest in emerging technologies. Power outages are increasingly common in these areas, leaving communities and critical infrastructure more vulnerable. This award attempts to address these challenges.
The award, which is funded by OCED through the Rural Energy Viability for Integrated Vital Energy (REVIVE) project, will support the development of three behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems using a vanadium flow battery system supplied by Invinity Energy Systems in Frentress Lake, IL; Waukon, IA; and Wyevill, WI. The systems will provide a total of up to 700kW of power for 10 hours across these communities, and Dairyland will collaborate with distribution cooperatives to bring electricity to each location.
In addition to promoting clean energy technologies, the REVIVE LDES award will include a robust Community Benefit Plan, supported by UW–Madison’s Clean Energy Community Initiative, to foster equity and economic growth in Dairyland’s rural and agricultural service territories. The three project sites include a Justice40 community and communities that have hosted now-retired coal-fired power plants. Dairyland will collaborate with cooperative members, community organizations, local labor unions, and others to ensure the project benefits are equitably shared through workforce development, environmental stewardship, and justice.
“Dairyland is excited to be at the forefront of bringing energy storage projects to underserved rural areas,” said Dairyland EVP & Chief Strategy Officer Kevin Nordt. “Long-duration batteries will be an essential component of the clean energy transition as they complement renewable resources and support reliability through their ability to store and shift energy in real time.”
Read More: REVIVE LDES Fact Sheet