Kearsage and NEC partner for solar storage project in Massachusetts
Kearsarge Energy and NEC Energy Solutions completed one of the first Solar + Storage Projects in Massachusetts.
Kearsarge developed and constructed the 4.5 MW solar array at the former Titcomb pit landfill in Amesbury, while NEC installed the 1.6 MW/3.8 MWh AC energy storage system. It will be connected to the National Grid. The City of Amesbury held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to mark the completion of the project.
Boston-based Kearsarge Energy owns and operates the Solar + Storage system and will use it to provide energy capacity services for the NE-ISO market. It is the first in Kearsarge’s 250MW pipeline to incorporate energy storage. The project will produce 5.2 million kWh of electricity annually and prevent the annual release of 4,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
“The partnership between the City of Amesbury, National Grid and NEC was absolutely critical to the success of this groundbreaking project,” Andrew Bernstein, managing partner of Kearsarge Energy, said. “Our mission at Kearsarge is to develop sustainable energy solutions in public-private partnerships that boost local economies, provide budgetary relief for municipalities, and enhance community life using underutilized resources like landfills. The Amesbury project is a superb example of how all those objectives can be met when municipal leaders are forward looking and open to win-win partnerships.”
NEC’s GSS Grid Storage Solution has been in commercial service since 2008, with nearly a gigawatt of energy storage installed, contracted, or awarded.
“We are pleased to partner with Kearsarge on this Solar + Storage project right here in our back yard,” Betty Chan-Massey, director channel sales of NEC Energy Solutions, said. “This will make Amesbury one of the largest providers of sustainable solar energy in this part of the state, which is something to really celebrate. We’re particularly pleased knowing that our energy storage system is the key enabler allowing that to happen. We also look forward to working with Kearsarge on many more projects like this one as a result of our Master Supply Agreement.”
