International Battery has been chosen as the battery system provider for the first-of-its-kind community energy storage (CES) systems, developed by S&C Electric Co. for American Electric Power .

Community energy storage is a concept for distributed energy storage initiated by AEP. The intent is to provide the utility and its customers many benefits, including load leveling, back-up power, support for plug-in electric car deployment as well as grid regulation and improved distribution line efficiencies. As more renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, are integrated into the smart grid, managing and storing energy is essential due to the intermittent nature of these power sources.

AEP Ohio’s gridSMART Demonstration Project, funded in part by $75 million Department of Energy stimulus funding, will be deployed to 110,000 AEP Ohio customers in Northeast Central Ohio. The project will integrate a broad range of advanced technologies in the distribution grid, utility back office, and consumer premises with innovative consumer programs to demonstrate the benefits of a smart grid for consumers and the utility. CES holds the promise of being an integral component of the smart grid.