Partnership announces storage project in Hinesburg, Vermont

A partnership of energy groups recently announced a utility-scale battery energy storage system to be built in Hinesburg, Vt.

The lithium battery system will have an installed power of 1.9 megawatts (MW) and energy storage capacity up to 5.3 megawatt-hours (MWh).

The group collaboration includes Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC), Viridity Energy Solutions, Inc., Northern Power Systems, Inc., and WEG Electric Corp.

Viridity will own and operate the storage system under the terms of an Energy Storage Service Agreement (ESSA) with VEC, using Viridity’s Battery Storage as a Service product and services solution. Northern Power and WEG will manage project and technical design, permitting, construction, battery supply and installation, and ongoing management.

“We determined that the ESSA approach will bring the benefits of a battery energy storage system to the Co-op without requiring any significant upfront capital costs by VEC,” VEC’s Interim CEO Vickie Brown said. “The Co-op has ensured a fair price for the development and operation of this storage project with reliable partners, and it will help VEC meet our goal of developing cost-effective storage solutions,” she said. Brown thanked the project partners for their technical expertise and their commitment to collaboration, all which will contribute to ensuring a successful project.”

The system will supply electricity during peak times and provide grid stability to reduce potential power outages.

“Viridity is thrilled to support VEC in bringing a cost-effective storage system to VEC members to reduce VEC member costs,” Viridity President Raj Chudgar said. “This project is a great example of what we can do when we work together across multiple organizations to achieve positive outcomes. We are pleased to be able to work with the Co-op and our partners, Northern and WEG, to implement this project by summer 2019.”