Press Releases
01/15/2019
NYSEG and RG&E Test Energy Storage Technologies
NYSEG and RG&E Test Energy Storage Technologies
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BINGHAMTON, New York — January 7, 2019 — New York State Electric & Gas along with Rochester Gas and Electric, subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc., have completed construction and deployed four energy storage pilot projects. These initiatives will test electric distribution system benefits, new technologies, and the capability to store energy, which could create opportunities for cost savings and provide environmental benefits.
“Our goal is to understand the benefits of energy storage to the electric grid as well as our customers, including what happens when we put the power into their hands by enabling them to store energy and use it when it makes the most sense for their families, homes and businesses,” said Jeff Ballard, vice president of Smart Grids for AVANGRID, the parent company of NYSEG and RG&E. “This is an innovative step forward which allows our companies to proactively address the growing demand on the grid.”
Energy storage pilot projects such as these support New York’s Reforming the Energy Vision and the state’s energy storage target of 3,000 MW by 2030 by providing valuable operational experience and insight into energy storage systems.
NYSEG and RG&E’s 4 Energy Storage Projects include:
Electric Vehicle Energy Storage: RG&E has installed fast chargers for electric vehicles constructed by Mesa Technical Associates, Inc. at its location at 1800 Scottsville Road in Rochester, NY. The station will test capability to use a battery system to quickly charge electric vehicles.
Behind The Meter: Eight selected commercial customers within NYSEG’s Energy Smart Community in Tompkins County already have or will have Tesla Powerpack energy storage systems attached to their electrical system which will charge during off-peak hours at a lower cost. These customers will then have the option to use the stored energy during peak hours, which could create cost saving opportunities and reduce demand on the grid.
Peak Shaving: A battery storage system installed at an RG&E substation will allow the company to charge the system during low demand, off-peak times. This will test potential benefits associated with using the stored energy during times of increased usage like hot summer days, which has the potential to decrease demand on the grid at peak times and enhance reliability.
Circuit Deployment: A battery storage system installed on one of NYSEG’s circuits in Ithaca will allow the company to charge the system during low demand, off-peak times. This will test potential benefits associated with using the stored energy during times of increased usage like hot summer days in a localized area, which has the potential to decrease demand on the grid at peak times and enhance reliability.
Over the next two years, the companies will collect operational data, evaluate lessons learned, and review best practices to adopt this new technology statewide for the benefit of our customers and the electric grid.
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About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $44 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.
With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
