PJM Grid's Largest Battery Energy Storage Project Begins Construction in Ohio

Construction is officially underway outside Columbus, Ohio, on a massive 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) battery system designed to relieve pressure on the regional power grid. Known as the Flint Grid battery energy storage system, the project is being developed by Eolian in Jersey Township, located within Licking County. Once operational, the facility will play a critical role in supporting a region where rapid industrial expansion and data center development are driving up electricity demand.

According to Eolian, Flint Grid will be the largest battery energy storage project built in Ohio as well as across the entire PJM regional grid. PJM operates the electricity grid across 13 states and Washington, DC. The facility is set to deliver 200 megawatts (MW) of power for more than five hours, providing the capacity to store over 1 GWh of electricity and release it back to the grid during periods when demand and system strain reach their peak.

Strategic Location near Data Center Corridors

The 200 MW installation will span roughly 15 acres along Jug Street Road. It is situated directly adjacent to New Albany’s rapidly expanding industrial and data center corridor. The area already hosts significant infrastructure, including data centers operated by Amazon Web Services, while tech giants Google and Meta are currently constructing additional data center facilities nearby.

Flint Grid also holds regulatory significance as the very first grid-scale battery storage project permitted by the Ohio Power Siting Board.

Capacity Market Breakthroughs

Beyond its sheer scale, Flint Grid marks a series of milestones within PJM’s regulatory structure. Eolian states that Flint Grid is the first large-scale battery project to qualify for PJM’s capacity market. Furthermore, it cleared the grid operator’s 2027–28 capacity auction as the single largest battery resource, representing more than half of all new battery capacity selected for that specific delivery year.

PJM’s capacity market functions by compensating power generators and energy resources to ensure they are available when the grid foresees future needs. Battery energy storage systems excel in this environment due to their ability to react almost instantly. They draw and store power when electricity is abundant, then discharge that power back into the system during periods of tight supply. Placing these installations strategically near areas of intense electricity demand allows grid operators to optimize existing transmission lines while longer-term grid upgrades and new power generation sources are developed.

Addressing those infrastructure demands is a central focus for Eolian leadership.

“There’s growing consternation about how the US can rapidly scale infrastructure to support America’s growing electricity demand, but not nearly enough conversation about how to use existing technology to unlock the wasted capacity that already exists on the grid,” said Eolian founder and CEO Aaron Zubaty. “Flint Grid demonstrates how companies like Eolian have been investing in solutions to unlock the grid and reduce price pressures on consumers using proven and scalable technology.”

Financial Commitment and Operational Timeline

While Eolian has stated that building the Flint Grid battery facility will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, the company has not publicly disclosed the exact price tag. Additionally, specific details regarding the battery supplier and chosen battery chemistry have not been made public.

Eolian noted that it committed financial capital to the Flint Grid initiative years before surging electricity forecasts—largely driven by data center development—became a widespread national concern. The facility is slated to begin commercial operations before the start of PJM’s 2027–28 capacity year.