Michigan-based Our Next Energy (ONE) is set to open a long-duration battery storage factory in West Virginia, next to a 420 MWh solar microgrid. The factory will manufacture the Aries Grid, a utility-scale lithium iron phosphate battery system that was unveiled at the end of February. This system is more durable and has double the lifetime energy throughput of the nickel, cobalt, and manganese (NCM) chemistries that make up most commercially available stationary energy storage systems in the US.
The Aries Grid will be available in 2-, 3-, and 6-MWh modular units so systems can be customized. It has discharge times ranging from four to 12 hours, and it can form a microgrid that can provide unlimited 24/7 firm baseload capacity for anything from communities to EV chargers. ONE is buying and upgrading a 40,000-square-foot shuttered aluminum plant on the Ravenswood site. The company expects its factory to come online in 2025, and it will start hiring next year. It’s expected to create around 100 jobs.
The new factory will sit right next to Des Moines-headquartered renewable developer Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) Renewables. BHE selected ONE as its partner for utility-scale battery storage at its first-of-its-kind solar energy microgrid-powered industrial site. Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC), a Berkshire Hathaway business, will be the first company on-site at Ravenswood. It will operate under the PCC subsidiary Titanium Metals Corporation and will develop a titanium melt facility that will use 100% renewable energy to make titanium products for aerospace and other industries. It’s also going to create around 200 jobs.
West Virginia is coal country – as of 2021, West Virginia was the second-largest coal producer in the US and accounted for 14% of US total coal production. This latest battery storage investment in West Virginia directly results from the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. It’s also going to help US battery supply chains and boost domestic manufacturing. The Solar Energy Industries Association ranks West Virginia 48th in the US for the amount of solar installed – and it gets 0% of its electricity from solar.
The new factory and microgrid project represent a historic transition to renewable energy-based manufacturing in the US and establishes a standard for others to follow. It will bring even more jobs and investment to this area to help clear a path to a carbon-free manufacturing future. With more projects like this, West Virginia can replace coal jobs with good-paying jobs in renewables and make a big step towards a greener future.
FAQ
Q1. When will electric cars be available in the UK?
A1. Electric cars are already available in the UK and can be purchased from a variety of dealerships.
Q2. Where can I find electric car charging stations near me?
A2. You can find electric car charging stations near you by using online maps or apps such as PlugShare or ChargePoint.
Q3. Which electric car is the best?
A3. The best electric car depends on your individual needs and preferences. Some popular models include the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, and Chevrolet Bolt EV.
