MISO Anticipates $27 Billion Savings by 2035 Through 11 GW of Battery Expansion

A recent report indicates that the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) could realize savings of up to $27 billion in system costs by the year 2035 through the deployment of 11 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage capacity. Currently, MISO's grid hosts approximately 125 megawatts (MW) of battery storage, serving a peak load of 127 gigawatts (GW). In comparison, California operates around 13 GW of batteries on a 52 GW system. Financial projections show that, without additional battery infrastructure, wholesale electricity prices are expected to increase by about $1.40 per megawatt-hour (MWh) over the next decade, translating to an extra $1.2 billion in total electricity expenses. Implementing the proposed battery capacity could significantly reduce peak-hour power prices in MISO by approximately two-thirds, from $245/MWh down to $86/MWh.