Alliant Energy’s Decorah Battery Project in Iowa, a cutting-edge initiative, integrates several containers packed with advanced energy storage technology. These containers form part of a larger push towards sustainable energy solutions, housing batteries to store excess power for future use.

A Challenging Installation

“Each of the racks in the main container holds twelve batteries positioned at heights varying from ankle-high to over six feet,” explains Rick Zimmerman, Senior Strategic Project Engineer at Alliant Energy. “To complete this installation, we needed a solution that prioritized both ease and safety.”

Enter the RackLift™ Big Blue Cart, a versatile lifting solution powered by either a hand crank or electric drill. This essential tool ensured batteries were installed both quickly and securely, contributing to the project’s success.

How the Big Blue Cart Delivered

Alliant Energy collaborated with RackLift engineers to design a custom loading cart tailored specifically to meet the demands of this project. The result? A streamlined process that took over 3,660 pounds of lifting pressure off contractors, facilitating the movement and placement of 360 lithium-ion battery modules—each weighing about 100 pounds.

Mike McArthur, Project Manager at Eilertson Inc., Alliant Energy’s contractor for battery installation, praises the RackLift solution: “Without the RackLift™, loading all these modules would’ve been incredibly challenging. Once we understood the workflow, we could unpack a battery, crank it to the needed height, and slide it seamlessly into the rack. By the time we reset the cart, the next module was ready.”

A Tool to Replicate in Future Projects

The RackLift™ Big Blue Cart helped the team establish an efficient rhythm that kept battery placement continuous. “Technicians appreciate the RackLift™, noting it makes a significant difference in battery installation speed and safety,” McArthur adds. Sarah Martz, Alliant Energy’s Manager of Distribution Engineering, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing plans to incorporate these learnings in future energy storage projects.

The Decorah battery system, boasting a 2.5-megawatt, 2.922-megawatt-hour capacity, will operate as an “electron bank,” storing surplus solar power in a town where customer-owned generation is high.

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Explore RackLift’s Solutions for Energy Projects

If you’re exploring energy storage solutions that prioritize safety and efficiency, the RackLift Big Blue Cart could be the answer. Check out our full range of RackLift solutions and learn how our equipment helps companies like Alliant Energy deliver successful and sustainable energy storage projects.

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Keywords: RackLift, Big Blue Cart, energy storage, battery installation, Alliant Energy, Decorah Battery Project, lithium-ion, energy efficiency