DTE Energy to build 880 MWh capacity battery storage center at the site of a retired coal plant

Detroit-based diversified energy company, DTE Energy has announced that it will build a 220-megawatt (880 MWh capacity) battery energy storage center at the site of a retired Trenton Channel coal plant in Michigan.

The new project scheduled to be completed by 2026, is expected to be the largest standalone battery energy storage project in the Great Lakes region. The new project will not only add to DTE's growing fleet of renewable generation but also help in alleviating the strain on the grid based on the need to start and stop generation as demand fluctuates.

Today, roughly one-third of all electricity generated by DTE comes from carbon-free resources," said Jerry Norcia, Chairman and CEO of DTE Energy. "Our world-class solar, wind, and nuclear generation facilities are delivering reliable and clean electricity to our customers, and the Trenton Channel Energy Center is a significant milestone in accelerating our clean energy journey."

The cost of the Trenton Channel site's transformation is expected to be significantly offset by $140 million in tax incentives through the 2022 Federal Inflation Reduction Act and its infrastructure investment provisions.

The standalone battery storage project marks a major step for the company in supporting the State of Michigan to meet its MI Healthy Climate Plan goals as well as DTE's goal to more than double its total energy storage capacity by 2042.