Xcel Energy wants to turn Minnesota’s biggest coal site into the Midwest’s biggest battery hub. (ESS News)
The utility has asked regulators to approve 600 MW of new battery storage at its Sherco Energy Hub, doubling its original plan and expanding total storage across the state to 735 MW when combined with other projects.
The batteries will tap existing grid connections to store power from Xcel’s wind, solar, nuclear, and gas fleet and deliver it during peak demand. Construction could start in 2026, with the first units running by late 2027.
Xcel’s broader goal: replace coal with a mix of large-scale storage and solar while testing a new 200 MW distributed battery network that could act as a VPP across Minnesota.