March 28, 2024
Global Renewable News

NEW YORK POWER AUTHORITY
NYPA Announces North Country Large-Scale Energy Storage Project Construction Start
New York State Vendor to Build Nation-leading Battery Storage Project That Will Help Alleviate Transmission Constraints

August 31, 2020

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today (August 26) announced the start of construction on a large-scale, 20 megawatt (MW) energy battery storage project in Northern New York, one of the largest such projects in the nation. The innovative facility, located in Franklin County at the top of the state, will advance progress toward achieving New York's ambitious target to have 3,000 megawatts of energy storage deployed by 2030 - the equivalent of powering 40 percent of New York's homes. The project is expected to be in service early next year.

"This innovative storage project is a significant step for the continued growth of renewable energy in New York State," said Judge Eugene L. Nicandri, NYPA vice chairman and Massena resident. "The North Country is the ideal location to model a large-scale battery storage facility because of the proximity of the St. Lawrence hydropower project and extensive wind resources. Being able to store this renewable energy will improve transmission of the state's electric power to downstate markets while promoting economic growth in upstate New York."

The battery storage facility, which is located in Chateaugay, adjacent to an existing NYPA substation, will be the second of its kind in New York State*  - the only battery storage project that is New York State owned and operated - and among the largest such facilities in the country.  The project will include a unique one-hour lithium-ion battery system that will help New York State meet its peak power needs by absorbing excess generation that can be discharged later, based upon the changing needs of the grid.

"This transformative energy storage project will enable us to integrate more renewable energy, such as hydro, wind and solar, into the New York State grid," said Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. "These large-scale batteries are one of the keys to growing renewables. With these projects, we can store energy for times of high demand and give our transmission system greater flexibility and resiliency. Storing renewable energy also is critical to helping New York State meet Governor Cuomo's aggressive clean energy targets and to fighting climate change."

The NYPA Board of Trustees approved $23.8 million for the project in 2019 at its July 30 meeting. The total estimated project cost is $29.8 million - $6 million of which was initially approved by the NYPA board in October 2018.

Increasing energy storage capabilities also helps to realize the Governor's bold climate change mitigation policies which aim to reduce the state's carbon footprint to zero by 2040 and ensure that 70 percent of the State's electricity supply comes from renewables by 2030. 

The work is being undertaken by O'Connell Electric Company, Inc., of Victor, N.Y. in Ontario County in the Finger Lakes region. The firm was awarded a three-year engineering, procurement and construction contract in the amount of $22.6 million by the NYPA Board of Trustees last year in a competitive bidding process.

The project's strategic location in Northern New York is significant in encouraging efficient, reliable renewable energy growth. More than 80 percent of the region's electricity supply comes from renewable resources, including NYPA's St. Lawrence hydropower project and more than 650 MW of local wind generation. Having the capability to store renewable energy for later delivery also will help eliminate current transmission constraints that can prevent energy from being delivered to consumers.

The energy storage system will supply the New York wholesale energy and ancillary service markets and will contribute to the reliability of the supply of electric power in New York.  

Senator Betty Little said, "The North Country has been a renewable energy leader. This storage system is important to help us achieve a better energy future. Franklin County is the right place for this kind of innovation and I am grateful that Governor Cuomo and NYPA have looked to our region for this kind of investment."

Assemblyman Billy Jones said, "Northern New York is once again demonstrating it is a leader in supporting renewable energy with the construction of the battery storage project. The project will promote renewable energy by providing a reliable and economic benefit to New York's electric power system."

Chateaugay Town Supervisor Donald Bilow said, "As a community Chateaugay has been very supportive of the development of renewable energy. I am pleased to see construction of the battery storage project is moving forward to provide 20 megawatts of storage."

*The first is a 20 MW battery energy storage system developed by a private developer; Key Capture Energy in Stillwater, N.Y (Saratoga County). That project, funded by NYSERDA under the state's Bulk Storage incentive program, is connected to the wholesale transmission network and will generate revenue for the Albany-based independent utility-scale battery storage developer through participation in the New York Independent System Operator's wholesale power markets.

About NYPA
NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter @NYPAenergy, FacebookInstagramTumblr and LinkedIn.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan 
Governor Cuomo's nation-leading climate plan is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State Builds Back Better as it recovers from the Covid pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to reach its mandated goals of economy wide carbon neutrality and achieving a zero-carbon emissions electricity sector by 2040, faster than any other state. It builds on New York's unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including a $3.9 billion investment in 67 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector, a commitment to develop over 1,800 megawatts of offshore wind by 2024, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. New York's Climate Action Council is working on a scoping plan to build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050 while ensuring that at least 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments benefit disadvantaged communities, and advancing progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 TBtus.

Contact:
NYPA: Lynne Smith
(914) 346-4656
Lynne.Smith@nypa.gov

For more information

New York Power Authority
123 Main St
White Plains New York
United States 10601-3170
www.nypa.gov


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