Dive Brief:
- Consolidated Edison has tapped Electrovaya to deliver a 500 kW lithium ion battery system to boost grid reslience and efficiency in place of standard mobile diesel systems.
- The Transportable Energy Storage System (TESS) will provide 800 kWh of energy and will ultimately be utilized for grid support.
- Con Edison currently uses portable diesel generators for dispatchable, temporary energy needs at specific locations, but the storage systems would offer cleaner alternatives.
Dive Insight:
Consolidated Edison uses portable diesel generation when it needs dispatachable power on site, but the utility and New York as a whole are looking for cleaner and more efficient ways to supply power. The pilot project with Canadian-based manufacturer Electrovaya is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s smart grid program as part of the state's Reforming the Energy Vision proceeding.
Margarett Jolly, Con Edison director of research and development, said the TESS system "will have tremendous potential to strengthen our network and ultimately improve our service to our customers." The utility worked with Electrovaya to develop the project specifications, and Jolly said the company is "excited about seeing the results during field trials."
The system is expected to be ready in the second quarter of next year.
"We believe the TESS will give the right mix of resilience, reliability, performance and cost effectiveness for the application," said Rajshekar DasGupta, vice president of business development for Electrvaya. The project will build on the company's experience with lithium ion systems and will include new cell developments and ceramic separator technology coming from a Germany subsidiary, he added.
Based in Ontario, Electrovaya has production facilities in Canada and Germany.
Over the summer, NYSERDA announced it would fund seven companies based inside the state to either scale up projects or demonstrate how energy storage can help transform the state's electricity grid. Energy storage is a major component of New York's REV strategy, and technologies targeted by the grants will include advanced batteries, ultracapacitors, fuel cells and and control modules.