Powering Tomorrow: Today
On Dec. 31, 2018, Luminant, a subsidiary of Vistra Energy (NYSE: VST), announced that its Upton 2 battery energy storage system project finished construction and began operating. The project was awarded a $1 million grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality through its New Technology Implementation Grant program, a part of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan.
Project Information
- Utility-scale solar project located in Upton County, Texas.
- 180 MW of installed capacity.
- The Upton 2 solar facility is the largest by capacity in Texas.
- Capacity to power approximately 56,700 average residences in ERCOT during normal weather conditions and 27,700 during periods of hot and high-demand conditions.
- 10-MW/42-MWh lithium-ion energy storage system
The battery system is the largest energy storage project in Texas and seventh largest in the United States, and is located on the site of Luminant’s 180-megawatt Upton 2 Solar Power Plant in Upton County, Texas. The solar facility continues to deliver on the company’s strategic plan to strengthen and expand its integrated businesses through enhanced retail solar offerings and diversity across its generation fleet. It is also direct evidence that competitive generators will invest in batteries in Texas when supported by market economics.
The 10-MW/42-MWh lithium-ion energy storage system captures excess solar energy produced at Upton 2 during the day and can release the power in late afternoon and early evening, when energy demand in ERCOT is highest. The battery system can also take advantage of low-priced grid power — during times of high wind output, for example — to charge the batteries to be available for higher demand periods.
Media Relations
For inquries regarding Upton 2, email Media.Relations@Luminant.com.
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