What is the benefit of having battery storage on the grid?

Large-scale battery storage systems like the Mountain Peak facility benefit the local electrical grid by providing resiliency and flexibility from a non-emitting capacity resource. Moving toward higher amounts of intermittent energy in regions like central and western Kansas will require balancing resources like the Mountain Peak facility that can quickly adapt to evolving grid conditions over time. 

How did you choose the project location for Mountain Peak?

The Plus Power team considered a variety of siting criteria, including but not limited to land use designations, archaeological and cultural resources, topography, proximity to critical utility infrastructure, and distance from neighbors. The Mountain Peak facility location met the optimal criteria across all categories. 

What prompted Plus Power to propose Mountain Peak?

The Mountain Peak facility is a critical grid infrastructure project ideally situated next to an existing substation to provide energy, capacity, and grid services in a region with growing local energy demand and abundant but variable energy resources. 

How long will the batteries last? What will happen to them after that? 

The Mountain Peak facility will have a lifespan of at least 20 years. Mountain Peak Energy Storage may be augmented within the project footprint with supplemental battery storage units to maintain expected performance. At the end of the project’s operating life, the battery system will be removed, and the land will be restored to as close to pre-existing conditions as possible. Because the battery components contain valuable minerals and technology, the components will be used for recycling and salvage value. 

Are there environmental, cultural or archaeological features that could be disturbed on the Mountain Peak project site? 

Plus Power is developing the Mountain Peak facility on property that has no known cultural or archaeological features within its footprint. The project has intentionally been sited on soil that is not highly productive, thereby preserving the valuable agricultural lands of Saline County. The facility layout has been designed to avoid one small intermittent stream, and the environmental impact is anticipated to be minimal.   

What considerations are being taken to ensure the safety of the project? 

Safety is paramount to Plus Power and the Mountain Peak facility. Several measures are being taken to ensure reliable and safe operation of the system. From a technology perspective, the Mountain Peak facility will utilize best-in-class lithium-ion batteries based on battery chemistries even safer than those used in cell phones, computers, and electric vehicles. The battery and system will be held to the highest national standards, including National Fire Protection Association 855 and other related grid infrastructure codes and standards. In addition, the system will utilize redundant safety features, including a temperature management system as well as 24/7 remote monitoring to maintain system stability. Saline County Emergency Management has been fully engaged in design discussions as part of the Conditional Use Permit application, and the Plus Power team will continue with significant collaboration and training with first responders such that proper techniques are used in the unlikely event of an emergency. 

Will Mountain Peak be able to withstand a natural disaster? 

The site is designed with local conditions in mind and will be resilient to damage from high winds, earthquakes, wildfires, lightning strikes, and other types of natural disasters. The Mountain Peak facility will be designed per ASTM standards to ensure foundations and infrastructure are designed in accordance with local requirements. A detention basin will be utilized on site to manage stormwater and drainage. 

Will the Mountain Peak facility impact my views? 

The Mountain Peak facility is ideally situated in an area already developed area with existing public utility uses, away from residential areas. As such, the impact on local views will be very limited.