Eolian announced that Flint Grid, a 200MW, 5+hour duration grid-scale battery energy storage system in Jersey Township, Licking County, Ohio, has started construction

Eolian’s proven and enviable track record is evidenced by the successful funding and development of nearly 30 GW of operating or under-construction energy storage, solar, and wind generating capacity throughout the country.  Eolian currently operates a growing portfolio of wholly-owned utility-scale battery energy storage projects, and was an early innovator in the development of GW-scale co-located gen+load datacenter and industrial project sites across the US.

Since 2005, Eolian has been an innovative investor in energy projects, including the invention of the renewable energy royalty structure that has now become an industry standard. In contrast to many firms that raise capital with short-term buy and sell strategies, Eolian and its partners have long-term views of 30+ years. This allows for a unique perspective on energy investing and an alignment with the long-term generation planning perspective of utilities, independent power producers and power market operators.

Eolian announced that Flint Grid, a 200MW, 5+hour duration grid-scale battery energy storage system in Jersey Township, Licking County, Ohio, has started construction (“Flint Grid Project”). Located adjacent to New Albany datacenter and industrial load, the Flint Grid Project is the first large-scale battery energy storage system to qualify for the PJM capacity market and the largest battery storage system to clear the 2027/28 Residual Capacity Auction, representing more than 50 percent of all new battery storage capacity in that capacity year.

The Flint Grid Project is also the first grid-scale battery energy storage system permitted by the Ohio Power Siting Board and the largest battery energy storage system built to date in Ohio and the PJM footprint, establishing an important precedent for future energy storage development across the state.

Eolian is actively collaborating with grid operators, regulators, and industry stakeholders on research and policy initiatives to advance battery energy storage integration into wholesale electricity markets, including technical frameworks for optimal bidding protocols, new market products for energy storage participation, ELCC accreditation methodology, revenue optimization across multiple wholesale market segments, and a recognition that strategically-located battery storage projects can actually increase transmission capacity in constrained locations with increasing load demands.

“There’s growing consternation about how the US can rapidly scale infrastructure to support America’s growing electricity demand, but not nearly enough conversation about how to use existing technology to unlock the wasted capacity that already exists on the grid” said Aaron Zubaty, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eolian. “Flint Grid demonstrates how companies like Eolian have been investing in solutions to unlock the grid and reduce price pressures on consumers using proven and scalable technology. This project requires hundreds of millions of dollars to construct, and we committed the necessary capital and resources years before today’s demand forecasts became headline news. As policymakers consider changes to competitive electricity markets, it’s critical that they avoid undermining the long-term investments already underway that will make better use of existing transmission infrastructure and that create a bridge to further long-term supply expansion.”

Battery energy storage complements traditional grid infrastructure by providing flexible capacity that responds in milliseconds to stabilize and back up the grid during high-risk events, while optimizing how to match power supply and demand through all hours of the day, every day of the year.