US-based Demand Energy, wholly owned by Italian utility Enel Group, has announced it will build a total of 2.5MW/10MWh of energy storage in New York City with 11 projects.
Demand has been selected by New York City’s distribution grid operator to supply behind-the-meter (BTM) C&I (commercial and industrial) and multi-unit residential systems.
The BTM battery storages aims to help reduce electricity demand during peak hours and provide grid capacity relief in the city.
The projects, with final locations still to be determined, will be controlled by the company’s Distributed Energy Network Optimization System (DEN.OSTM) intelligent software control platform, Demand said. All systems are expected to start operation by September 2018.
The firm’s contact, Eugene Hunt, told BBB that their BTM batteries using lead-acid batteries at indoor applications, while employing lithium-ion technology for outdoors usages.
Hunt added, “Demand is the first energy storage system integrator to receive approval from the Fire Department of New York and the NYC Department of Buildings for lithium-ion batteries, but only for outdoor use. Lead-acid is still the only approved battery type for indoors.”
Pictured is the Barclay Tower residential block in New York, with 2MWh of stored energy capacity installed, designed by Demand Energy.