General

OPPD leading the way on battery technology in Nebraska

As demand for energy grows, utilities are seeking new ways to capture and store the electricity they generate for times when customers need it most. 

OPPD is tackling this challenge on several fronts, including an innovative solar-and-battery partnership in northeast Nebraska and a utility-scale lithium-ion battery in Cass County. 

Both projects highlight the fast-evolving battery technology that OPPD is embracing to strengthen and diversify its energy portfolio. 

“OPPD has truly been leading the way and innovating to bring new technology, like batteries, to Nebraska,” said Joe Lang, director of OPPD’s Generation Strategy and Origination team. “We believe the key to meeting customer growth and providing reliable, resilient energy is having a diverse energy portfolio.”  

Largest battery project in Nebraska underway

The new solar-and-battery facility, known as the Pierce County Energy Center, includes the largest battery facility under physical construction in Nebraska at this time. 

Forged through a partnership between OPPD and Google, the project will serve both organizations with a 420-megawatt solar array and a 170-megawatt, four-hour duration battery storage system. 

NextEra Energy Resources is developing the Pierce County Energy Center for OPPD and Google and construction is well underway. The facility is set to become operational in 2027, barring unforeseen developments. 

A ‘BRIGHT’ idea 

At a rural OPPD substation in Cass County, OPPD is currently using the capabilities of a stand-alone lithium-ion battery. 

OPPD’s battery program began in 2023 with BRIGHT (Battery Research Innovation Guided by High-Potential Technologies), the first stand-alone battery storage system in Nebraska. 

The system has the capacity to produce one megawatt for up to two hours. That’s enough to power nearly 75 homes with one full discharge. Partial funding came from a $600,000 Nebraska Environmental Trust grant. 

Looking ahead 

OPPD also is investing in a new technology that will expand its ability to best use energy from battery storage in the wholesale energy marketplace. 

Looking ahead, battery storage will be an important consideration in the district’s Integrated System Plan (ISP). The ISP is a roadmap of sorts that guides OPPD’s future investments in generation, the grid and customer solutions. That process is under way right now, with OPPD seeking public input and identifying the best ways to serve customers.   

As a public power utility, OPPD evaluates emerging technologies carefully to ensure they deliver the best value for customer‑owners.  

“Resources like battery storage – which can function both as load and as generation – require thoughtful analysis to confirm they strengthen system reliability, support our long‑term planning, and keep the economic benefits here in Nebraska,” Lang said.  

“We’re excited to continue to build muscle around using this technology and finding opportunities to integrate more of it into our portfolio in ways that benefit our Public Power customer owners.”