March 30, 2026
What Is Interconnection Capacity and Why It Determines Your Lease Value
Interconnection capacity is the single biggest factor in whether your Illinois land qualifies for a battery storage lease. Here's what it means and how to find out if capacity is available near you.
You may have the perfect parcel of land — flat, accessible, close to a road — but if there's no available interconnection capacity at a nearby substation, it won't qualify for a battery storage lease. Understanding this concept is key to evaluating your land's potential.
What is interconnection capacity?
Interconnection capacity refers to how much additional power generation or storage the local electrical grid can absorb at a given point. Battery storage systems connect to the grid at substations — the large transformer facilities you see along highways and near towns.
Each substation has a rated capacity (measured in megawatts). Some of that capacity is already used by existing generators, homes, and businesses. The remaining available capacity determines whether new battery projects can connect there.
How it works in ComEd territory
In northern Illinois, the power grid is operated by ComEd (Commonwealth Edison) at the distribution level, and by PJM Interconnection at the transmission level. When a developer wants to connect a battery storage project, they must:
- Identify a substation with sufficient available capacity
- Apply to the interconnection queue (PJM for larger projects, ComEd for smaller ones)
- Complete engineering studies to confirm the grid can handle the new load
- Receive approval and build the interconnection infrastructure
This process can take 12-36 months, which is why developers are actively securing sites now — before the best interconnection points fill up.
Why capacity is filling up fast
Illinois's clean energy legislation (CEJA) created strong incentives for battery storage, and developers have responded. The PJM interconnection queue for ComEd territory currently includes over 200 battery and solar projects totaling thousands of megawatts.
As more projects are approved and built, available capacity at the most accessible substations decreases. Properties near substations with remaining capacity become increasingly valuable.
What this means for your land
Two properties in the same county can have very different lease potential based solely on which substation they're near. A property 2 miles from a substation with 100 MW of available capacity is far more valuable than one near a fully subscribed substation.
This is why a professional site evaluation is essential — it's not something you can determine just by looking at a map. Our team analyzes substation capacity, queue depth, feeder infrastructure, and distance to determine whether your property qualifies.
Request a free site evaluation to find out if your land has interconnection potential.
Frequently asked questions
What is interconnection capacity?
Interconnection capacity is the amount of additional power generation or storage that the electrical grid can absorb at a given substation. Battery storage projects need available capacity at a nearby substation to connect to the grid.
How do I know if there's interconnection capacity near my land?
You can't determine this yourself — it requires analyzing ComEd substation data, PJM queue filings, and feeder infrastructure. Submit a free property assessment at illinoisbattery.com/apply and our team will evaluate the capacity near your property.
What happens if all the interconnection capacity is taken?
If a substation's capacity is fully subscribed, new projects must wait for upgrades or find alternative connection points. This is why acting sooner gives landowners an advantage — the best interconnection points are being claimed now.