The first large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in Wisconsin, a 110MW facility known as the Paris Solar-Battery Park, has officially begun operations. This facility is paired with a 200MW solar installation that became operational in December 2024.
Utility company We Energies holds the majority stake in the project, while Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) and Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) share co-ownership. The Paris Solar-Battery Park was developed by independent power producer Invenergy and is situated in Kenosha County. Wisconsin’s utilities have collaborated with Invenergy on multiple projects. For instance, last month, MGE worked alongside WPS and We Energies to acquire 30MW of solar capacity and 16.5MW of battery storage from Invenergy’s High Noon Solar Energy Centre, which is anticipated to start commercial operations in 2027. This agreement also included We Energies and WPS owning an additional 270MW of solar and 148.5MW of battery storage.
In 2023, MGE announced plans to purchase energy generated by Invenergy’s Koshkonong Solar Energy Centre in Dane County, Wisconsin, marking yet another partnership with WPS and We Energies. In October 2024, Energy-Storage.news reported that three utilities, including MGE, were seeking regulatory approval for two solar-plus-storage projects from Invenergy as part of a $1.92 billion investment aimed at reducing carbon emissions across the state. This acquisition allowed MGE to share 10MW of BESS capacity with WPS and gain an additional 5MW of solar capacity.
In December 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office announced a conditional commitment for a loan of up to $2.5 billion to Wisconsin Electric Power Company (WEPCO), a subsidiary of We Energies. This funding is intended to support approximately 1,650MW of utility-scale renewable energy generation and energy storage projects in Wisconsin.
Mike Hooper, president of We Energies, remarked on the significance of the Paris Solar-Battery Park: “Bringing Wisconsin’s first large-scale battery storage project online is historic and continues our commitment to provide customers with reliable and affordable energy.” He added, “Our ‘all of the above’ power generation approach means customers can count on the energy they need, no matter the weather or the time of day.”
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