Portland General Electric (PGE) recently brought online its latest battery storage facility, Constable, in Hillsboro, Oregon. This 75-megawatt (MW) installation recently commenced commercial operations in December 2024, marking a significant milestone in PGE’s commitment to bolstering electricity supply for the Portland metro area. Constable is one of three new utility-scale battery energy storage systems. Combined, they provide over 1.9 GWh of dispatchable capacity.
PGE’s investment in these new facilities aims to improve the reliability and resilience of the electricity grid, particularly during peak demand periods. Combined, these installations are capable of powering 300,000 homes for four hours. They do so in a much more efficient and sustainable way.
Details of the Constable Facility
The Constable facility was built under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement with the contractor Mortenson. This innovative partnership is a testament to PGE’s deliberate focus on creating energy solutions that better serve the changing needs of its community. Through the use of next-generation lithium-ion technology, Constable is positioned to be an essential player in the storage and distribution of energy.
Along with Constable, PGE has already finished its Coffee Creek battery storage system, located outside of Wilsonville, in 2024. These new efforts bring PGE’s total large-scale battery storage capacity to a jaw-dropping 492 MW. This combination of systems is indicative of PGE’s forward-thinking approach toward improving the intelligence of renewable energy.
Broader Impact on the Region
Three recently operational battery energy storage systems are now installed at strategic locations right below these substations. Publicly, they’ve been talked about in North Portland, Troutdale, and Hillsboro. This population-based geographical distribution is intentional in order to create the most efficient, accessible coverage across the region. Eolian built the Seaside facility as an incubator under this effort. They had provided it to PGE under a fixed-cost build-to-transfer agreement.
These improvements are especially welcome news since the region has recently faced a volatile and changing energy demand. Rather, PGE is only concerned with the stored electric supply overall being adequate. This strategy not only mitigates the impact of peak demand on consumers but advances the transition to lower-cost, cleaner forms of energy.
Future Plans and Developments
According to PGE, the future of energy storage and management will be in continued innovative solutions. The utility’s commitment to integrating more renewable resources into its grid would help the local community and state meet wider environmental goals. PGE has ongoing efforts to enhance the reliability, safety, and sustainability of its services. It’s challenged, at the same time, to keep pace with the rapidly growing energy needs of the Portland metro area.