DTE Energy, a Michigan-based renewable energy producer, plans to convert a portion of its retired Trenton Channel coal power plant site to feature a 220 MW battery energy storage center.
The standalone battery energy storage center in the Great Lakes region is expected to be completed in 2026. The facility will store electricity during times of excess generation and distribute the power to customers when required to reduce strain on the grid, decrease the need to start and stop generation as demand fluctuates, and augment DTE’s growing fleet of renewable generation to benefit its customers.
“Today, roughly one-third of all electricity generated by DTE comes from carbon-free resources,” said Jerry Norcia, Chairman and CEO of DTE Energy. “Our solar, wind, and nuclear generation facilities are delivering reliable and clean electricity to our customers, and the Trenton Channel Energy Center is a significant milestone in accelerating our clean energy journey.”
The new Trenton Channel Energy Center will not only support DTE’s transformational CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan but also Michigan’s new statewide energy storage target, both of which align with DTE’s net zero carbon reduction goals.
The cost of the Trenton Channel site’s transformation is offset by $140 million in tax incentives through the 2022 federal Inflation Reduction Act and its infrastructure investment provisions.
The center will have the capacity to store 220 MW (or 880 MWh) of electricity, enough to power nearly 40,000 homes. It also supports DTE’s goal to more than double its total energy storage capacity by 2042 and helps the State of Michigan achieve its goals for clean energy, as outlined in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate plan.
The site’s transformation supports DTE’s commitment to bringing more Michigan-made renewable energy online. The project will also bring additional tax revenue to the Trenton community to help fund projects, including roads, schools, and police and fire initiatives.
All of DTE’s energy storage projects will help the company efficiently deliver clean energy to 2.3 million customers across Southeast Michigan when necessary.
