NWA solar + storage to increase New York grid capacity

Convergent Energy + Power and National Grid have announced the completion of one of the first solar-plus-storage systems providing a non-wires-alternative (NWA).

The system aims to deliver more cost-effective, reliable and sustainable electricity to National Grid customers in Cicero, New York, while leveraging solar energy during nonpeak periods to increase grid capacity.

The announcement sees US energy storage solutions Convergent Energy + Power team up alongside National Grid US, an electricity, natural gas and clean energy delivery company. The NWA system is designed, constructed and operated by Convergent.

An NWA removes or defers the need to construct or upgrade components of a distribution and transmission system. Energy storage (typically battery storage) is a type of NWA that offers utilities a way to increase capacity on the electric grid by charging the batteries when electricity demand is low and discharging when demand outstrips supply. Convergent’s NWA with National Grid pairs battery energy storage with solar energy (solar-plus-storage).

Convergent was selected by National Grid through a bidding process to increase capacity at its Pine Grove substation. The aim is to increase benefits for customers as well as the amount of solar energy on the grid.

National Grid will reportedly utilise the system on peak days to provide to customers served by the substation. During off-peak days, Convergent will participate in the market to provide clean energy for National Grid customers.

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“National Grid is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the amount of renewable energy on the grid while improving reliability and affordability for customers,” stated Brian Gemmell, National Grid’s chief clean energy development officer.

“Our recently released Clean Energy Vision plan outlines a pathway to achieve a fossil-free future to our energy systems that incorporate renewable sources of energy and storage solutions such as this NWA Pine Grove. Convergent Energy + Power’s expertise in developing and operating energy storage solutions that benefit utilities and communities made them a natural fit for this project.”

NY Green Bank, a division of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which invests in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure in New York State, provided the construction-to-term financing for the project.

NYSERDA also provided a total of nearly $2.3 million for the project through its NY-Sun Program, the state’s $1.8 billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar while driving costs down and making solar energy more accessible to homes, businesses and communities.

NYSERDA vice president, distributed energy resources, David Sandbank commented: “In New York, private-public partnerships are a centrepiece of the state’s efforts to accelerate the development of these critical distributed resources to bring the benefits of clean energy into more homes and businesses while providing grid benefits utility wide.

“We look forward to working with Convergent Energy + Power and National Grid to see that this solar-plus-storage project delivers clean, affordable solar energy to central New York customers for years to come.”

Convergent’s 10MW/40MWh of energy storage paired with 15MWdc of solar for National Grid is part of Convergent’s portfolio of eight solar-plus-storage systems in Central and Upstate New York.

The solar-plus-storage system was constructed by CS Energy. GE provided the DC-Coupled energy storage package.