EVLO delivers part of its new battery energy storage system in Troy, Vermont (courtesy: EVLO)

What do you do with excess renewable energy generation on a site that can’t utilize it all locally or export the excess back to the grid? An answer to that increasingly common question has manifested in the form of a first-of-its-kind project for both developer and utility.

EVLO Energy Storage, a fully integrated battery energy storage system provider and wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, has completed commissioning on its first utility-scale BESS in the United States. The 3 MW/12 MWh battery energy storage system in Troy, Vermont promises to reduce peak demand and limit curtailment of renewable power sources.

The BESS, co-owned and operated by Vermont Electric Cooperative and Green Mountain Power, will store energy at the height of production to use later during peak demand, which helps to smooth out the intermittency of renewable power generation while delivering value to local utility customers.

“One interesting application of Battery Energy Storage Systems, or BESS, is to bolster areas where a surplus of renewable power is generated, but cannot be exported to the grid due to transmission procedures,” explains EVLO’s vice president of deployment and operations, Vincent David. “In places like Troy, these batteries will charge with excess power from renewable during times when the grid is congested, and discharge energy when customer demand peaks.”

This will be the first BESS in Vermont used for this purpose. Green Mountain Power will distribute excess energy to the regional grid operator, ISO New England. The battery allows Vermont Electric Cooperative, which has relationships with local wind and hydro generation facilities, an opportunity to maximize the efficiency of existing renewable energy infrastructure.

The Troy project consists of 16 EVLO 1000 units and four Power Conversion System (PCS) platforms, all managed by the EVLOGIX Energy Management System (EMS). EVLO will monitor and maintain the BESS under a 20-year long-term service agreement, in partnership with the Vermont utilities.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity was a crucial partner in the project. Rebecca Towne, CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative, shouted out Dr. Imre Gyuk as an asset to her team throughout the process.

“Not only did they help with financing, but they, along with Sandia National Laboratory, made their expertise available to us, adding to the robust team that helped it all come together,” expressed Towne. The Troy BESS will provide data to DOE demonstrating how battery storage can enable the expansion of renewable energy production while further integrating renewables into the New England grid.

Public sentiment

While some battery energy storage projects are given side-eye by the locals, by all accounts, Troy was an incredibly welcoming host for this endeavor.

“Citizens came by and asked questions during the commissioning process,” recalled David. “It was an opportunity for us to be transparent about the project and provide information about the benefits of the system.”

That doesn’t mean there weren’t some concerns- mostly regarding any potential noise stemming from the project’s operation.

“Vermont is a picturesque place and the community asked important questions about sound, visibility, and safety which were answered to their satisfaction. We found the community to be appreciative of the role this battery will play in maximizing renewable energy generation in the region,” noted Towne.

A cross-border partnership

It’s a short trip across a friendly border for Hydro-Québec/EVLO to do business in Vermont, and geographical proximity made for natural bedfellows. It probably helps that about half of Vermont Electric Cooperative’s power comes from Hydro-Québec.

“This project worked because of innovation driven by cross-border collaboration,” suggested Towne. “As we look ahead in the energy transition, we should remember that energy solutions don’t always have to be defined (or limited) by location proximity to one another.”

“As a first project in the United States, we finally got our first chance to experience the logistic side of things, south of the border – delivering our system and having our experts on-site for support,” said EVLO’s David. “Without having encountered any major challenges, we’ve added US-specific steps to our deployment checklist, and we’re ready for upcoming projects.”

“EVLO is proud to work with pioneering utilities, such as the ones in Vermont, that take action to accelerate the energy transition,” added Sonia St-Arnaud, president and CEO at EVLO. “To effectively increase renewable energy utilization, a robust battery energy storage sector is critical, and we’re proud to share EVLO’s power grid and BESS know-how to this important project, the first of many we currently have in development in the U.S.”

A template for future projects?

Battery energy storage systems are quickly coming online in Vermont. This will be Vermont Electric Cooperative’s second BESS (the first provides them with 4 MWh/year). Green Mountain Power has already amassed nearly 70 MW of battery storage across the state, including utility-scale batteries in Georgia, Springfield, Bethel, Middlebury, Bristol, and Barre, according to VTDigger.

“Our hope is this project will help demonstrate the critical role that battery energy storage can have, empowering us to deliver more reliable and sustainable power to the communities we serve,” said VEC’s Towne. “As more renewable capacity comes online, this project is a great example of helping the regional grid through collaboration and innovation.”