The 50MW/400MWh storage system will be located in northern Vermont by Highview Power Storage and Encore Renewable Energy.
The utility-scale scale energy storage plant will help scale renewable energy deployment as well as contribute to resolving the longstanding energy transmission challenges in Vermont.
The system will enable an increase in the capacity of energy generated from renewables such as solar and wind on the power grid to provide consumers with affordable energy.
The project will stabilise the regional electrical grid and ensure future energy security during storms and other disruptions. This includes the ability to store energy for weeks at the lowest levelised cost of long-duration storage in the industry and providing what is called “grid-synchronous inertia,” which balances electrical demand and supply and helps avoid blackouts.
Excess or off-peak electricity is used to clean and compress air which is then stored in liquid form in insulated tanks at temperatures approaching 320 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (-196 C). During times when energy demand is high, the pressurised gas is allowed to warm, turning a turbine as it expands and thus generating energy that can be used at peak times when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.
Other services the facility can deliver include market arbitrage, frequency management, reserve, and grid constraint management services.
The US energy storage market is expected to surge over 700% to nearly $5.4 billion by 2024, driven mostly by utility-scale projects, according to Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewable.
