Plans move forward on Anbaric Renewable Energy Center in Massachusetts

Developers are moving forward with plans to launch the Anbaric Renewable Energy Center at the Brayton Point Commerce Center in Somerset, Mass.

The project is being done as part of an agreement between Commercial Development Company, Inc., which owns Brayton Point, and energy company Anbaric. The project will transform the former coal-fired power plant site into a logistics port, manufacturing hub, and support center for the offshore wind energy sector.

“We see Anbaric as a natural fit with the development of the Brayton Point Commerce Center,” Stephen Collins of CDC’s Brayton Point Commerce Center said.

The Renewable Energy Center will feature a 1200-megawatt (MW) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter – an investment estimated at $250 million. Also, Anbaric will develop 400 MW of battery storage on site, which would bring an additional $400 million in investment.

“The Renewable Energy Center represents Anbaric’s broader vision for its Massachusetts OceanGrid project: high-capacity transmission infrastructure to maximize the potential of the region’s offshore wind energy resource,” Edward Krapels, CEO of Anbaric, said. “As Massachusetts considers harnessing more offshore wind, the right infrastructure needs to be envisioned and set in motion. An HVDC substation is an important piece not only for Brayton Point Commerce Center but also Massachusetts’ status as a leader in offshore wind.”

CDC imploded two massive cooling towers at Brayton Point in April, clearing the way for the redevelopment of Brayton Point.

“Developing a landing point for 1200 MW of offshore wind at the site of a former coal plant physically and symbolically represents the transformation from fossil fuels to wind,” Krapels said. “While the South Coast has lost a coal plant, it’s quickly becoming the nexus of a new clean energy economy and emerging as one of the great energy stories in the world. This agreement is a symbol of the change that’s coming – and it promises to be a very powerful economic driver in the region.”

U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who serves the region, said the Anbaric Renewable Energy Center will strengthen the local economy and help fight the effects of climate change.