IPL awarded 2017 Project of the Year by POWERGRID International for its Advancion Energy Storage Array

January 31, 2017

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), a subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), today was named the winner of the 2017 Project of the Year award for Grid Optimization for the IPL Advancion® Energy Storage Array during POWERGRID International’s DistribuTECH Conference & Exhibition. The POWERGRID International and DistribuTECH award-winning projects honor utilities and contracting vendors from across the country. IPL was one of four utilities recognized for its efforts during the keynote address.

The Array, located at IPL’s Harding Street Generating Station, began commercial operations last May. It is the first grid-scale, battery-based energy storage system in the 15-state Midcontinent Independent System Operation (MISO) footprint.

“IPL is honored to win the 2017 Project of the Year award for Grid Optimization,” said Rafael Sanchez, IPL President and CEO. “ Innovative solutions from AES will benefit IPL’s customers with safe and reliable service and a more resilient grid.”

The IPL Array delivers frequency control, including Primary Frequency Response (PFR) and Frequency Regulation, automatically without the need for dispatch or human intervention. This means the array can balance the constant demand on the grid by instantaneously adding or removing energy. It is the first energy storage system in the United States being used to provide PFR. 

“The experience we gained deploying and operating energy storage in eight markets helped IPL navigate some of the challenges faced in building the first grid-scale energy storage array in MISO,” said John Zahurancik, President of AES Energy Storage. “By choosing Advancion, IPL is ensuring that their energy storage solution will help optimize their grid today and will grow with them as they continue to meet the needs of their customers.”

In 2016, IPL was recognized as one of the eight finalists for the 2016 U.S. Edison Award during the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Annual Convention, for its innovative execution of solar generation and battery storage projects. For an in-depth look at how the IPL Advancion Energy Storage Array supports electric grid reliability, visit IPL’s blog +Stories (pronounced “Positive Stories”) at IPLpower.com/blog.

 

###

About Indianapolis Power & Light Company and AES.
Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), an AES Company, provides retail electric service to more than 490,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other Central Indiana communities surrounding Marion County. During its long history, IPL has supplied its customers with some of the lowest-cost, most reliable power in the country. For more information about the company, please visit www.IPLpower.com or connect with us at www.twitter.com/IPLpower, www.facebook.com/IPLpower or www.linkedin.com/company/IPLpower.

The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 200 global power company. We provide affordable, sustainable energy to 17 countries through our diverse portfolio of distribution businesses as well as thermal and renewable generation facilities. Our workforce of 21,000 people is committed to operational excellence and meeting the world’s changing power needs. Our 2015 revenues were $15 billion and we own and manage $37 billion in total assets. To learn more, please visit www.aes.com. Follow AES on Twitter @TheAESCorp.

Media Contact:
Claire Dalton
Indianapolis Power & Light Company
Office: 317.829.7737, Media Hotline: 317.261.5905
claire.dalton@aes.com