Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., and Convergent Energy and Power (Convergent), a leading provider of energy storage solutions in North America, announced the completion of a 1.75 MW / 8.4 MWh battery storage system in Little Orleans, Maryland, to enhance grid reliability for over 600 Potomac Edison customers. The battery energy storage system integrator is ELM MicroGrid.
The system, designed, constructed, and operated by Convergent, supports Potomac Edison customers served by a line in a rural part of Allegany and Washington counties, where tree-related outages frequently occur during severe weather. Potomac Edison will use the battery to provide backup power to customers on that line, reducing the duration of outages experienced, until crews are able to make repairs and restore service. When fully charged, the battery is expected to be able to provide backup power for around five hours to customers on the circuit. In addition, Potomac Edison can reserve the battery on days that present a higher risk of outages in the area based on predicted weather forecasts.
The system was developed in response to the state’s Energy Storage Pilot Program, which was established in 2019 to examine new technologies that could have a transformative impact on electric distribution systems. Through a competitive bidding process, Potomac Edison selected Convergent to build and operate the system in a location where it could provide significant reliability benefits to Potomac Edison customers and supplement electric supply on high-demand days.
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Convergent’s system with Potomac Edison is known as a non-wires alternative, or NWA, which removes or defers the need to construct or upgrade components of a distribution and/or transmission system. Energy storage (typically battery storage) is a type of NWA that offers utilities a way to increase capacity on the electric distribution system by charging the batteries when electricity demand is low and discharging when demand is higher. In 2015, Convergent was the first company to develop an NWA for utility infrastructure in the United States.
Jim Myers, FirstEnergy’s President, West Virginia and Maryland, said: “This new system will help keep the lights on for hundreds of our customers and significantly reduce the impact of service interruptions in the area. Convergent has been an outstanding partner on this project, and we look forward to the meaningful reliability benefits it will provide in the future.”
Convergent Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer Frank Genova said, “Convergent continues to power the clean energy transition through energy storage, which is critical to a more reliable electric grid. Potomac Edison’s decision to add battery storage demonstrates their commitment to their customers, their preparedness and strategic planning, and their willingness to embrace contemporary solutions to meet increasing demands on our energy infrastructure.”
“At ELM, we are committed to empowering utilities and communities with innovative energy storage solutions that enhance grid reliability and resiliency,” said Jason Petermeier, ELM MigroGrid Chief Operating Officer. “The successful completion of this project with Convergent Energy and Power and Potomac Edison demonstrates the transformative potential of advanced battery systems in providing dependable, sustainable power in rural areas. We are proud to play a key role in advancing non-wires alternatives that meet the growing energy needs of our partners and their customers.”
SOURCE: Businesswire