Duke Energy launches battery microgrid in Gilchrist County, Florida

Duke Energy has upgraded an 11-megawatt lithium battery site in Gilchrist County, Florida, into a microgrid capable of providing backup power to approximately 1,500 customers in Trenton. Originally placed in service in 2022 to manage system demand and store power, the facility can now detect outages, disconnect from the main electric network, and continue serving the local area for up to four hours.

This microgrid is designed to mitigate disruptions caused by storms and hurricanes, which are frequent in the region. By providing shared backup power, the system aims to reduce downtime for businesses and maintain essential services during grid failures. This marks Duke Energy’s second large-scale community backup facility in the state, following a previous microgrid installation in Micanopy, Alachua County. The utility currently operates six battery storage sites across Florida.