New York is making consistent efforts to move towards its 50% clean energy goal by 2030. Governor Cuomo announced the plan to work on a 1500 MW energy store battery project by 2025. This was a decisive move to reduce carbon emissions and boost the reliability of electricity. Nearly $350 million will be authorized to support the energy storage market. The investment includes funds for both solar and storage projects within New York.
The Goal
The objective is to provide benefits worth nearly $2 billion to the citizens of New York. This could also reduce carbon dioxide emissions up to 1 million metric tons. It is estimated that the project would create an excellent foundation to grow the storage sector and create up to 30,000 jobs.
Benefits
The batteries will store and provide power to the grid. The project is estimated to eliminate operational risk through full load seamless power supply and optimize energy through voltage regulation.
Current Status
The construction of New York’s biggest battery storage started with a 20 MW battery storage project in Luther Forest Technology Campus in Upstate New York’s Saratoga County. Key Capture Energy and NEC Energy Solutions came together to begin the project in September 2018. NEC will provide leading technology solutions to KCE in facilitating the project’s progress.
PSC shall analyze peaker operational and emission profiles to determine potential candidates for repowering or replacement. Towards this, DPS will discuss with NYISO, NYSERDA, LIPA, DEC and Con Ed to come up with a comprehensive plan by July 1, 2019.
As a welcome step, NYSERDA has currently authorized $350 million and is seeking to reallocate $52.9M in RGGI funds for deploying storage systems throughout New York. Further, to meet its clean energy goal by 2030, DPS shall prepare an Annual State of Storage report to track storage deployments, progress, roadblocks, data platform development, and marketing coordination.
Towards this, DPS Staff, NYSERDA and stakeholders will come together on March 1, 2019, to develop a work plan and schedule for a Market Design and Integration Working Group.
This is the largest Li-ion energy storage project in New York and will set a benchmark for other states with the U.S. to accelerate their efforts towards clean energy efficiency.
