Edgecombe-Martin County EMC has completed the installation of cutting-edge battery energy storage technology, adding local energy resources that will enhance grid reliability for members. 

Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is committed to driving innovative energy solutions that help power a brighter future for our members and communities. Delivering reliable, affordable power remains a top priority for Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, and these utility-scale battery energy storage projects further demonstrate our ongoing commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our members.

The new battery storage project is integrated into an existing Edgecombe-Martin County EMC electric substation and is part of a larger initiative by North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. Seventeen substation batteries have been deployed in cooperative territories across the state since 2022. Collectively, the batteries provide 90MWs of power and are discharged during times of peak demand for power. 

These battery projects support grid reliability because they can be dispatched in real time to meet demand. This capability, known as dispatchability, is especially important as the energy landscape shifts, with traditional resources retiring and being replaced by more variable resources that inherently depend on weather conditions.
Additionally, the location has been strategically chosen by Edgecombe-Martin County EMC because it is situated in an area with a high concentration of utility-scale solar energy. Solar, as an energy resource, is most productive when demand for energy is low. Being able to store solar output for use when demand is high improves the efficiency of the resources and grid. 

As a member owned and governed utility, we will continue to lead the integration, management and optimization of resources and technologies that benefit our community and local members – now and in the decades to come. 

Beyond substation batteries, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC and North Carolina’s network of electric cooperatives have worked together to deploy innovative energy technologies to enhance reliability and local grid resilience. These efforts include community solar, microgrids, demand response programs and solar plus storage projects, all aimed at ensuring North Carolina’s electric cooperatives can continue to deliver affordable, reliable power to members while also pursuing long-term sustainability goals. 

Cooperatively,
Winston Howell
Winston Howell