Duke Energy Adds Solar, Battery Storage in Asheville
The new facility at the Asheville Energy Complex pairs solar power and battery storage with natural gas generation as winter demand rises across western North Carolina.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Energy
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Duke Energy has brought a new solar and battery storage facility into service at its Asheville Energy Complex, which is transitioning from a coal-fired plant to a modern energy site. The complex supplies electricity to more than half a million homes in the region.
Why it matters
Electricity demand across western North Carolina is expected to rise as temperatures drop in winter, and having multiple energy sources gives Duke Energy flexibility when fuel prices fluctuate. The added storage allows surplus solar and combined-cycle power to be held and deployed to the grid during the colder months.
Duke Energy reports that the solar facility can generate enough electricity for approximately 5,000 homes, while the natural gas portion has reduced emissions by about 60% since 2020. The stub does not provide battery capacity or total project cost.
The players
Duke Energy
Duke Energy is a major electric utility serving millions of customers across the Carolinas and other states, and it operates the Asheville Energy Complex.
The details
Batteries store excess solar energy and surplus power from the combined-cycle plant, then release it onto the grid during winter. Duke Energy also uses smart self-healing technology that reroutes customers to another line during outages without crews manually switching power. The natural gas portion operates more efficiently than the former coal plant it replaces.
Timeline
Emissions reductions at the natural gas portion have been tracked since 2020.
Stored battery energy is slated to be deployed to the grid during the winter 2026-27 season.
Roadmap
The Asheville project follows the Carolinas' broader move away from coal-fired generation toward natural gas paired with solar and storage. It reflects a utility strategy of diversifying generation sources to manage fuel price swings and rising winter demand.
Customers in western North Carolina can expect a more diversified grid as storage deploys power during winter peaks. Outage reroutes handled by self-healing technology may reduce the duration of some local interruptions.
The takeaway
Diversifying generation with storage helps a regional grid handle winter demand spikes without relying on a single fuel source. Residents benefit most when utilities pair new capacity with reliability upgrades that shorten outages.
Further reading
Explore more on Energy developments shaping Asheville and western North Carolina.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLOS.
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