Based in North Carolina, Duke Energy’s customer usage is double in comparison to other areas around the country since most rely highly on electric appliances for both cooling and heating. Duke must be able to compensate enough energy for peaks of high loads throughout both winter and summer.

Some unique circumstances must be overcome if they continue planning to reach 50% carbon reduction by 2030. Options are limited, costly, and will require years of planning and building. Solar generation is weak due to low output during winter when there have been weeks on end of only 20% yield. Wind farms aren’t as reliable in the Southeast unless locations are offshore. However, Duke’s major load centers are inland. They would need to invest in transmission lines plus battery installations. Plans are already in motion to upgrade their pumped hydro storage as they are the most reliable long-duration storage system. This will ensure long term needs are met and will help Duke’s journey to reducing carbon.

Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.

Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.

Additional Information: https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/how-duke-energys-southeastern-service-territory-dictates-its-path-to-zero-carbon