PJM claims roughly 686 MW of battery energy storage across 42 operating utility-scale projects. CAISO expanded its fleet from about 500 MW in 2020 to more than 16 GW in 2026. The gap is the story.
PJM Interconnection faces a nearly 7 gigawatt capacity shortfall by 2028. I read that shortfall as a clock, and the batteries are the fastest way to beat it.
The grid operator accepted more than 60 GW of storage into the first cycle of its reformed interconnection process. My read: the pipeline is deep, but only a sliver is running today.
The battery energy storage systems, both courtesy of ENGIE, will add a much-needed 1,660 MW of storage capacity to a system with surprisingly little. PJM can approve up to 17 more 250 MW+ EIT projects through 2027 before the program is phased out.
A recent Brattle Group report for the U.S. Energy Storage Coalition estimates PJM will need at least 16 GW by 2032, 23 GW by 2040, and 43 GW by 2045 to maintain reliability.
When your next project needs interconnection, will it wait years or get on the fast track?