Washington, D.C. (September 10, 2020) — The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today awarded Southern Company with the 92nd Edison Award. Presented annually and selected by a panel of former energy industry executives, the Edison Award is the electric power industry’s most prestigious honor.
Southern Company was selected for its energy storage system initiatives, including the development, commissioning, and operation of the Energy Storage Research Center (ESRC). The Birmingham, Ala., facility serves as an industry-wide destination for battery energy storage technology testing, evaluation, and large-scale demonstration. Additionally, the ESRC forms the anchor for several other Southern Company energy storage R&D initiatives that achieved key milestones in 2019, such as the Georgia Power and Alabama Power Smart Neighborhoods.
“EEI member companies continue to integrate clean energy technologies, such as energy storage, that will help pave the way for the future of our industry,” said EEI President Tom Kuhn. “Southern Company’s leadership and technical expertise for the testing, development, and deployment of a diverse portfolio of energy storage solutions not only improves the resiliency and reliability of the energy grid, but also creates tremendous value for customers. Congratulations to the Southern Company team for their outstanding work and for winning this well-deserved award.”
“As we prepare Southern Company to succeed in the transition to a net-zero carbon future, our many energy storage R&D initiatives – including the Energy Storage Research Center, Georgia Power and Alabama Power Smart Neighborhoods, and other pilot demonstrations – are advancing energy storage as an effective, technically viable energy solution,” said Southern Company Chairman, President, and CEO Tom Fanning.
“We are grateful to receive the electric power industry’s most prestigious honor and proud to personify what this award represents,” Fanning continued. “I want to thank Tom Kuhn and the distinguished panel of judges who participated in this year’s selection process. I also would like to thank our many R&D partners in these efforts, including the Electric Power Research Institute and U.S. Department of Energy. Their collaboration is essential as we move emerging energy storage technologies forward.”
