Work begins on large-scale battery storage facility in Sheboygan
Construction has started on Alliant Energy's Battery Energy Storage System
SHEBOYGAN — For more than a century, the City of Sheboygan has been a key energy hub helping to power homes and businesses in eastern Wisconsin and beyond.
With new technological advances and the ongoing transition to cleaner renewable generation sources, Alliant Energy began construction on the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) adjacent to the Edgewater Generating Station. Workers began site preparations earlier this month on the 7-acre property west of Lakeshore Drive.
“The construction activity occurring on the property is to construct a 99MW utility-scale battery storage facility adjacent to the Edgewater Generating Station site,” said Taylor Adams, Senior Communications Specialist at Alliant Energy. “The BESS represents a significant expansion of our energy storage capacity as we continue to invest in our all-of-the-above approach to energy.”
The power plant will be converted from coal to natural gas, paving the way for cleaner more sustainable energy solutions. Alliant Energy plans to make the switch by 2028. “At this time, our previously stated timeline for the transition still stands,” Adams confirmed to WKTS News.
In documents filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), the company noted the new battery project is a cost-effective solution that will help meet projected customer needs. Once completed, it can store enough energy to power over 100,000 homes for four hours. Work is expected to be finished by the end of 2026. Construction was expected to begin last year but was delayed.
“This battery system represents the next phase of energy generation that will enable more sustainable growth and greater resiliency,” said David de Leon, the company’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “With a strong local workforce and robust infrastructure, the Sheboygan community has helped deliver safe and reliable energy to our customers for generations.
The added flexibility created by battery energy storage solutions will diversify and complement Alliant Energy’s generation portfolio while increasing customer access to safe, reliable energy. “The Edgewater Battery Project is a smart investment that strengthens our generation portfolio while leveraging the historic energy investments in the Sheboygan community,” added de Leon.
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