Duke Energy Submits 2026 Carolinas Plan, Proposing 18.5 GW of Solar

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dimension News, recently, Duke Energy submitted its 2026 Carolinas Resource Plan to the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC), proposing a recommended portfolio of new supply-side capacity additions over the next 15 years, including 18.5 GW of solar, 14 GW of natural gas generation, and 13 GW of battery storage. The plan aims to address the "significant growth" in electricity demand in the Carolinas region.

According to the documents filed by Duke Energy, the new natural gas capacity will be split into 8.2 GW of combined-cycle units and 5.8 GW of combustion turbines. The company has received approval for a 1.4 GW combined-cycle facility in Anderson County, South Carolina, and has signed a gas turbine supply agreement with GE Vernova. The plan also proposes approximately 4.5 GW of new nuclear capacity, with Duke Energy stating that nuclear power is "a critical resource for supporting long-term reliability and system needs". The company is also advancing license renewals for its existing nuclear units, targeting an extension to an 80-year operating lifespan.

Duke Energy stated that solar procurement and construction efforts continue to progress, including completed facilities, projects under construction, and ongoing solicitations for solar and solar-plus-storage projects. On the battery storage front, the company has operational projects, secured equipment, ongoing interconnection activities, and has issued a 400 MW standalone storage solicitation in South Carolina. The company also maintains an annual energy efficiency savings target of no less than 1% of load forecast. Duke Energy's base load forecast shows winter peak demand increasing by more than 10 GW, a cumulative growth of approximately 30%.

The Public Service Commission of South Carolina is expected to hold a hearing on the resource plan in April 2027 and issue an order in June 2027.