, , , ,

Utility-Scale Renewable Projects

The success of utility-scale renewable projects hinges on more than just energy production; it depends on the strength of relationships with local stakeholders and meaningful investment in the communities. This means that companies must not just earn but also maintain their social license to operate within a community. By adopting a long-term perspective, companies can safeguard their projects. That perspective will not only contribute to sustainable energy goals but also support local development and foster enduring community relationships.

Relationship building matters
As owners and operators of utility-scale renewables projects, we understand that we will be present in these communities for decades to come. With any power production facility, it is natural to think of the physical infrastructure, but we must be mindful that there are people behind every one of our projects. As such, we need to engage with a wide range of community members: from local business owners, landowners, elected officials, first responders, educators, and more.

When considering a location for a new utility-scale wind, solar or battery project, we invest an appreciable amount of time in research to understand the needs of the community. Our engagement approach focuses on discerning the unique needs and aspirations of each community with the goal of understanding what is important within the community and building meaningful relationships around their needs. As we move forward with a project, the engagement process continues. We look to build ongoing relationships with the local schools as well as vocational and community colleges. We look for opportunities to celebrate certain project milestones with the community. For example, when we begin the operations phase of the project, we celebrate with a ribbon cutting ceremony to thank all the people who helped make the project possible. Additionally, we ensure that the project’s site manager is connected to the community as a means of encouraging ongoing communication.

Landowners are key to our projects
Landowners are foundational for the success of clean energy. We are proud to help them protect their family legacy by providing additional financial security through our projects. From the very beginning of a project, our team connects with landowners, gauging their interests and establishing long-term relationships. We ensure two-way communication with our landowners throughout the project lifecycle, keeping them informed and involved at each phase of our projects.

Open dialogue in community opposition
When undertaking any large-scale infrastructure project, it is unlikely to have unanimous agreement. Community concern is one of the leading causes that renewable energy projects are cancelled or significantly delayed, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. We believe that dialogue, even when difficult, is a critical part of the public engagement process. We are present in community meetings and take an active engagement approach to hear concerns and discuss options.

Supporting local economies
When becoming part of a community, supporting the local economies is important. Our projects create an economic ripple effect that goes well beyond our immediate operations. This includes construction, long-term job creation and the potential for local businesses to support the construction and ongoing operations. By infusing substantial tax revenues into local economies, we support new investments in local schools, roads, bridges, and other community services.

Safety is our number one priority
Safety is not only a requirement; it is a responsibility. Safety is something we take seriously and work to ensure safety measures are in place throughout our operations on a project. We engage and partner with local emergency services by providing them with additional training and insight to ensure they are prepared to respond to any situation at our sites. Operating in a safe and secure manner is our top priority to ensure the wellbeing of our neighbors, our employees, and the broader community.

Driving positive change — globally and locally
In the communities where we operate, it is essential to prioritize engagement, open dialogue, and long-term commitment. With these practices, not only are our projects advancing the future of clean energy, but they are also contributing to local economic and social development. As we continue to build, operate, and manage these projects, we remain steadfast in our commitment to be safe, responsible, and responsive owners and operators and create lasting positive impacts — locally and globally.

If you have any questions, concepts, or ideas, or would like to learn more about our work in community engagement, please feel free to reach out.

/by
, , , , , , , , , , , ,

ENGIE among the top ranking world companies!

ENGIE in the top 50! The Group lies in 46th place in the World’s Best Companies 2024 ranking published by Time magazine and Statista. What’s more, in France the Group is in the top 5.

Published by the American weekly magazine Time in partnership with Statista, a leading international provider of market and consumer data and rankings, the World’s Best Companies 2024 ranking evaluates the world’s 1,000 top performing companies according to three key criteria: employee satisfaction, revenue growth and sustainability performance (ESG criteria).

ENGIE stands out this year, ranking 46th worldwide, compared with 57th place last year. This improvement is largely due to the growth rate of the company, reflecting its ability to innovate and to adapt in a constantly changing sector.

In France, ENGIE has climbed to 5th place, in particular thanks to its Net Promoter Score (NPS), an indicator that measures overall positive customer and employee perception of the company.

This good score illustrates the Group’s commitment to providing a caring and inclusive working environment as well as its social model which reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet.

/by
, , , , , ,

ENGIE enters a partnership with Ares Management for a 2.7 GW portfolio of Renewables and Storage Assets in the U.S.

HOUSTON, Sept. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that it recently closed a partnership with Ares Management Infrastructure Opportunities funds (Ares). This transaction represents the largest operating portfolio sell down for ENGIE in the U.S. and is one of the largest sales completed in the renewables sector based on total capacity. ENGIE will retain a controlling share in the portfolio and will continue to operate and manage the assets.

The overall 2.7 GW portfolio consists of 15 projects in operation across ERCOT, MISO, PJM and SPP, of which 53% is solar, 25% wind and 22% co-located battery storage capacity.

“We are delighted that ENGIE and Ares will be partners in such a large-scale renewables and co-located storage portfolio to further accelerate the energy transition towards a net zero future,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America. “The investment by Ares reflects ENGIE’s proven and recognized track record in developing, building, operating and financing renewable assets, both in North America and globally”.

ENGIE is a leader in the net zero energy transition and currently has more than 8 GW of renewable production in operation or construction across the U.S. and Canada. Globally, ENGIE has an aspiration to add 4 GW per year through 2025, with North America as a material contributor to that growth. This transaction supports ENGIE’s strategy in North America by simultaneously recycling capital and adding a leading infrastructure investor to ENGIE’s select pool of partners.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with ENGIE, a global leader in clean energy, on this highly contracted, attractive portfolio,” said Steve Porto, Partner in Ares’ Infrastructure Opportunities strategy. “This partnership provides diversification across proven technology and geography at scale alongside a strong operator. We look forward to continuing to provide the capital and experience needed to support the energy transition and build-out of climate infrastructure.”

###

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

About Ares Management
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2024, Ares Management Corporation’s global platform had over $447 billion of assets under management, with more than 2,950 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

/by
, , , , , , ,

Yucaipa Valley Water District Breaks Ground on a State-of-the-Art Resiliency and Clean Energy Project in Collaboration with ENGIE

Yucaipa, Calif. and Houston – The Yucaipa Valley Water District (YVWD) has initiated groundbreaking on its resiliency and clean energy water and wastewater project. The project includes the installation of 7 megawatts (MW) of solar power, a 3.3 MW/13 megawatt hour energy storage system, and 3.2 MW of natural gas generators coupled with microgrid controllers. The program is designed to advance clean energy adoption and the energy efficiency of water management at two key locations: the Yucaipa Valley Regional Water Filtration Facility and the Wochholz Regional Water Recycling Facility. A Southern California-based team from ENGIE North America (ENGIE) will manage the construction, ownership, and operation of the systems.

“This project marks a significant step forward in YVWD’s commitment to sustainability and energy resilience, ensuring reliable and efficient water services for the community,” said Joseph Zoba, General Manager from YVWD. “With the increase in power outages and PSPS across California, communities are facing enormous pressure to adapt and find new ways to ensure that critical operations are not impacted by grid outages. This project will enable YVWD to provide much-needed resiliency and reliability during power outages, ensuring our community remains safe and operational.”

The YVWD manages over 220 miles of drinking water pipelines and provides a combination of water, sewer, and recycled water connections to more than 22,000 ratepayers in the Inland Empire. The project will significantly improve the District’s capacity to serve residents, keep rates stable, and hedge against rising energy costs. It is designed to meet the District’s long-term resiliency goals and ensure safe, reliable power to key facilities during public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events. In Yucaipa Valley, a historically fire-prone region of Southern California, the community has faced increasing risks, managing fires nearly every two years.

“We are proud to work with Yucaipa Valley Water District to make the community’s critical infrastructure more resilient. By leveraging project savings, ENGIE is able to deliver critical facilities’ resiliency and reduce energy costs significantly,” said Courtney Jenkins, Vice President of Energy Solutions from ENGIE North America. “This initiative is projected to create $82 million in net savings after covering all costs over the 28-year agreement. The environmental impact of this project is substantial, with a carbon emissions reduction equivalent to removing 2,105 cars from the road annually.”
Following a project launch event at the Water Filtration Facility in May, YVWD celebrated the start of facility work at the Regional Water Recycling Facility during a groundbreaking ceremony this week.

About YVWD
Yucaipa Valley Water District is in San Bernardino County California. The District service area includes properties in Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Yucaipa and Calimesa. Yucaipa Valley Water District is in YVWD is a special district whose core mission is to provide reliable water and wastewater service to a 40 square-mile region with 223 miles of drinking water pipelines and 27 reservoirs with 34 million gallons of storage capacity.

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose, we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.


Contacts:

YVWD
Joseph Zoba, General Manager
(909) 372-0041

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

/by
, , , , , , , ,

City of Oceanside and ENGIE Announce a 30-year Comprehensive Energy Project

Oceanside, California and Houston, May 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The City of Oceanside, in collaboration with ENGIE North America (ENGIE), announced plans for a transformative energy initiative aimed at enhancing sustainability, reducing costs and fostering community engagement.

This comprehensive 30-year initiative is projected to generate more than $26,000,000 in net savings for the City. It includes significant energy efficiency gains through a series of strategic measures, including: integrating 1.6 megawatts of solar alongside a 250-kilowatt energy storage system, replacing and refurbishing HVAC units; implementing a battery energy storage system and an energy management system; installing new, efficient distribution transformers and generator heat pumps; and upgrading interior and exterior lighting to LED.

Additionally, ENGIE is taking the lead in spearheading an extensive community engagement effort as part of this initiative. This plan includes a range of programs, including: paid internships with the City; the placement of a CivicSpark Fellow to provide support for the Climate Action Plan; fostering economic development initiatives; establishing a living lab equipped with real-time solar data; bolstering support for the Parks and Recreation Department; facilitating after-school programs to help promote STEM activities; and continuing to revitalize the John Landes Community Center.

By acting proactively, the City of Oceanside was able to secure participation in a Net Energy Metering (NEM) 2.0 Program, which significantly enhances the financial benefits of the solar installations and grandfathers the City into the program for 20 years. Another component of the initiative is the implementation of a battery energy storage system. This system is anticipated to bring numerous benefits, including peak demand shaving, energy arbitrage and demand response capabilities. Oceanside is expected to receive a battery storage system incentive of $150,000 through the State of California’s Self Generation Incentive Program.

Moreover, the initiative aligns with the nationwide Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), allowing the City to benefit from direct pay tax incentive funding. The City qualifies for more than $3.2 million in IRA funding relative to solar and energy storage. This initiative is projected to reduce 4,200,000 kWh of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 641 cars annually. Additionally, the integration of solar infrastructure into the City’s Capital Improvement Plan directly contributes to the objectives of achieving 125 MW by 2030 and 165 MW by 2045.

“This initiative represents a significant step forward for Oceanside in our commitment to sustainability and community engagement,” said Mayor Esther Sanchez. “By working with ENGIE, we are not only improving our energy infrastructure but also creating opportunities for economic development and youth engagement. We are excited to see the positive impact this initiative will have on our city.”

“We are proud to collaborate with the City of Oceanside on this groundbreaking initiative,” said Jean-François Chartrain, Managing Director, Energy Solutions Americas at ENGIE. “By leveraging innovative solutions and fostering community involvement, we aim to create a more sustainable and resilient future for Oceanside residents. This alliance exemplifies our commitment to driving positive change through energy innovation.”

###

About Oceanside
The City of Oceanside, incorporated in 1888, is a full-service coastal city situated between San Diego and Los Angeles that provides its own police and fire safety, library, water and sewer services. The City has a municipal airport, a beautiful harbor, one of the longest wooden piers in the west, golf courses, aquatic centers, numerous parks, community centers, and palm-lined beaches. Oceanside has a classic beach culture feel with a highly-rated Southern California livability factor, a thriving downtown arts and culture scene, unique architecture and historic buildings, and an efficient transportation hub. Visit www.oceansideca.org


About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose, we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

###

Contact Data

Michael Clingan
ENGIE North America, External Relations
michael.clingan@external.engie.com

Rob O’Brien
City of Oceanside, Deputy City Manager
robrien@oceansideca.org

/by
, , ,

ENGIE Announces Commissioning of its 100MW+ Sun Valley Utility Scale Battery Storage Project in U.S.

100MWh Project will Provide Services to Support Growing ERCOT Grid

HOUSTON – ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced today that its Sun Valley Battery Storage project in Hill County Texas has been commissioned.

 The 100MW / 100MWh project is one of ENGIE’s largest utility scale storage facilities in the U.S. so far and is co-located with the company’s existing 250MW Sun Valley Solar project which commenced operation last year.

 “Sun Valley is our first 100MW+ co located energy storage project in the U.S. We have more than 2.0 GW of energy storage already under construction in Texas and other states expected to be commissioned by end of 2024. Together, these projects will contribute to ENGIE’s global aspiration of 10 GW of energy storage installed by 2030,” said Dave Carroll, chief renewables officer of ENGIE North America.

The Sun Valley Battery Storage project will provide reliability and ancillary services to meet ERCOT’s growing demand for electricity and is a key element in supporting the acceleration of the Net Zero energy transition.

 The storage system can dispatch electricity into the grid when needed, including the ability to meet peak hour electrical needs of some 10,000 average homes. The system can be charged both from the co-located solar facility as well as from the wider grid, when appropriate.

“ENGIE is already operating or constructing more than 7GW of renewable generation across North America and storage projects like Sun Valley provide complementary services to support greater penetration of renewables onto the grid,” said Carroll. “Co-located projects like this, alongside a leading portfolio of stand-alone facilities such as those recently acquired from Broad Reach Power mean ENGIE is able to support both the growing demand for renewables and enable greater reliability and resilience on the nation’s power grids.”

 The Sun Valley Storage project comprises 308 battery cabinets and involved more than 3,500 workdays to construct, including both local and regional skilled workers.

###

About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

Contacts:

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com
832-745-6057

/by
, , , ,

ENGIE accelerates in battery storage through the acquisition of Broad Reach Power in the United States

A major step towards ENGIE’s objective of reaching 10 GW of battery capacity within
the Group by 2030 to support the development of renewable energies

ENGIE announces it has signed a binding agreement for the acquisition of 100% of Broad Reach
Power, a company specialized in battery storage and based in Houston, from private equity funds
EnCap and Apollo.


The transaction involves 350MW of operating assets, as well as 880MW under construction
assets with a commissioning expected before the end of 2024, 1.7GW of advanced stage projects
and a significant pipeline of early stage projects. The projects are located in Texas, California and
the central states of the United States. Broad Reach Power skills, tools and teams are the perfect
fit, in and outside the United States, with ENGIE’s integrated model.


The acquisition will support the Group’s goal of having 10 GW of battery capacity globally by
2030. It will also strengthen ENGIE’s position as a leader in the energy transition in the United
States, where the group already has significant positions through its renewable assets (5GW in
operation at the end of 2022), battery storage and its energy management platform. The
development of these projects will respond to the strong need for flexibility generated by the
growth of the share of renewable energies in the energy mix and will increase ENGIE capacity to
provide 24/7 decarbonized electricity to his customers.


Completion of the transaction is expected by Q4 2023, subject to the fulfilment of certain
approvals from anti-trust and energy regulatory authorities.


For Catherine MacGregor, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE: “This acquisition is fully in line
with ENGIE’s strategy: it will contribute to the development of a low-carbon, affordable and
resilient energy system where flexible assets will play a critical role alongside renewables.”


About ENGIE
ENGIE is a leading global group in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, its
customers, its partners and its stakeholders, the Group is committed every day to accelerating the transition
to a carbon-neutral world, thanks to more energy-efficient and more environmentally-friendly solutions.
Guided by its purpose, ENGIE reconciles economic performance and positive impact on people and the
planet by relying on its key businesses (gas, renewable energies, services) to offer competitive solutions to
its customers.

Turnover in 2022: 93.9 billion euros. Listed in Paris and Brussels (ENGI), the Group is represented in the
main financial (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Euro 100, MSCI Europe) and extra-financial (DJSI World,
Euronext Vigeo Eiris – Europe 120 / France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal
Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X) indices.

 

ENGIE HQ Press contact:
Tel. France: +33 (0)1 44 22 24 35
Email: engiepress@engie.com
ENGIEpress

 

Investor relations contact:
Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 22 66 29
Email: ir@engie.com

/by
,

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative and ENGIE North America Announces the Completion of Battery Storage Project

Largest Battery in New Hampshire will bring a more flexible, resilient grid—and savings to Electric Co-op Members

 

HOUSTON, TX and PLYMOUTH, NH – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) announced the completion of its first utility scale energy storage project. The 2.45 megawatt (MW) battery project was developed in partnership with ENGIE North America (ENGIE), a leading provider of energy storage services.  

ENGIE will own and operate the battery unit, which is located on the site of NHEC’s 2 MW solar array in Moultonborough, NH. The battery unit will charge from NHEC’s distribution system during times of low demand and discharge during periods of peak regional electricity use. By discharging during hours of peak electric usage, the battery will save NHEC’s members on regional market and delivery charges while reducing demand on the grid.  

As part of the innovative partnership agreement with ENGIE, NHEC will discharge the battery to supply energy to its members up to 70 times per year. These discharges will be used to reduce NHEC’s transmission charges and regional capacity. The battery project will provide NHEC with insight and direct experience into how battery storage technologies respond to price signals and interact with its electrical system. NHEC estimates these discharges will save its members $2.3 million over the next 12 years.    

“Energy storage is a rapidly evolving technology that has a key place in our strategic vision for our business model of the future.  It’s important for NHEC to gain firsthand experience with batteries so we can better understand the benefits they have to offer our members and the operation of our system,” said Steve Camerino, President and CEO of NHEC. “As more Co-op members install their own batteries, NHEC needs to be ready to support them with a flexible, responsive grid. We are excited to make significant progress on our strategic vision through this innovative partnership with ENGIE, which will provide benefits to all NHEC’s members.”  

“We are delighted to have completed this leading-edge storage project alongside NHEC,” said Laura Beane, Chief Renewables Officer of ENGIE North America. “The addition of battery storage systems such as these are not only delivering real value to customers today, but also helping to accelerate the energy transition. NHEC’s leadership in commissioning this project reflects their commitment to innovation in supporting cost effective, clean energy for their members,” she continued. 

The battery storage unit is the largest in New Hampshire and can fully charge or discharge within two hours. NHEC and ENGIE received all necessary approvals from the Town of Moultonborough. The battery is housed in a pre-fabricated 40 foot container located within the fence line of NHEC’s solar facility in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. The battery unit has on-site fire suppression equipment and will be monitored 24 hours a day, year-round. 

*  *  * 

 

About New Hampshire Electric Cooperative 

NHEC is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 85,000 homes and businesses in 118 New Hampshire communities. Headquartered in Plymouth, NH, our business is to maintain and service our 6,000 miles of energized line in order to provide our members with the highest level of service. 

 

About ENGIE North America 

ENGIE North America Inc. offers a range of capabilities in the United States and Canada to help our customers achieve their sustainability goals as we work together to shape a sustainable future. Our comprehensive services include helping run facilities more efficiently and optimize energy and other resource use and costs; clean power generation; energy storage; and retail energy supply that includes renewable, demand response, and on-bill financing options. Nearly 100% of the company’s power generation portfolio is low-carbon or renewable. ENGIE S.A. is a global organization focused on low-carbon energy and services, that relies on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. With 170,000 employees, along with its customers, partners and stakeholders, the group is committed to accelerating the transition to a carbon-neutral world through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. 

For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com. 

 

Media Contacts: 

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative: Seth Wheeler, wheelers@nhec.com, (603) 536 8685 

ENGIE North America: Sandrine Deparis, sandrine.deparis@engie.com, (202) 855 3705 

/by
,

ENGIE Announces Largest Utility-Scale Energy Storage Installation in Massachusetts

October 4, 2017 – Holyoke, MA – 3 MW/6 MWh energy storage system to be installed at Mt. Tom Solar, adjacent to former coal plant; benefits include lower utility capacity costs/demand charges, reduced stress on electric grid, and optimization of solar energy.

 

ENGIE North America and Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) today announced plans for the largest utility-scale energy storage installation in Massachusetts. Green Charge, an ENGIE NA subsidiary, will operate the three-megawatt energy storage system at Mt. Tom Solar, which began operation in January of this year adjacent to the former Mt. Tom Power Station. The system will be used to optimize intermittent solar energy and reduce utility capacity costs for HG&E, the system’s customer, while reducing stress on the HG&E distribution system. This project will contribute to rate stabilization for HG&E customers over the next 20 years. In addition, customers will benefit from improved power quality and reliability. Green Charge expects to complete installation by April 2018, in time for the peak summer months when capacity costs are highest.

As part of Massachusetts’ Peak Demand Management Program, HG&E was awarded a $475,000 MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Grant. The funds will be used to contract with, schedule, measure, and analyze this state-of-the-art energy storage system. UMass Amherst will quantify the peak reduction value to the distribution system, accounting for equipment value, cost reduction potential, and overall project data. The goal of the grant is to provide research and recommendations on the future distribution system value of battery storage devices throughout the Commonwealth.

“Massachusetts is proud to be a national leader in energy efficiency programs that reduce overall consumption and we are committed to continuing our work to improve energy costs disproportionately affected by times of peak demand,” said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. “The demonstration projects funded through these grants will strengthen our innovation economy and provide the Commonwealth with a roadmap for reducing our most expensive energy loads and securing our energy future.”

While still an emerging energy innovation in Massachusetts, worldwide energy storage is rapidly being considered as a key resource that optimizes clean, renewable energy. Electricity produced from the Mt. Tom 5.76 MW-DC solar farm will be stored in the energy storage system isolated from, but interconnected to, HG&E’s electricity grid. This stored power will be called upon during local and regional peak load periods to cost-effectively satisfy demand, while reducing utility costs and demand charges for customers. Demand charges are incurred for electricity and capacity taken from the power grid and used during peak demand periods.

“We are pleased to work with ENGIE on the Mt. Tom energy storage project, which will produce peak demand and asset management benefits that will help HG&E stabilize electric rates over the long term,” said Jim Lavelle, HG&E’s Manager. “This project also adds a measure of resiliency to our local grid, helping us to better serve our customers.”

Over a 20-year term, HG&E will also use energy storage to reduce the burden on its electrical distribution system, thus increasing overall asset life. Green Charge systems are monitored, optimized, and controlled through its proprietary GridSynergy™ software platform.

“Solar and energy storage are keys to a low-carbon, low-cost energy future and HG&E is taking the lead by moving forward proactively to deploy what we see as the future for the energy industry,” said Frank Demaille, President and CEO of ENGIE North America.

“For several years Holyoke has taken the lead with respect to renewable energy deployment and carbon footprint management,” said Mayor Alex Morse. “Battery storage will enhance our ability to increase our renewable energy portfolio, and we are hopeful that the Mt. Tom Energy Storage project will be the first of many storage projects that help us advance our environmental stewardship objectives.”

About ENGIE:
ENGIE manages a range of energy businesses in the United States and Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution and sales, retail energy sales, and comprehensive services to help customers run their facilities more efficiently and optimize energy use and expense. Nearly 100 percent of the company’s power generation portfolio is low carbon or carbon free. Globally, the company is the largest independent power producer in the world, with operations in 70 countries employing 153,000 people, including 1,000 researchers in 11 R&D centers. For more information, please visit www.engie-na.com, @ENGIENorthAm, and www.engie.com.

About Holyoke Gas & Electric:
Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) is an innovative, municipally-owned utility that was formed in 1902. Today, HG&E provides electricity, natural gas, and fiber optic telecommunications services to over 18,000 customers. For more information, please visit www.hged.com.

About Green Charge:
In 2017 Green Charge was named the number one distributed energy storage company by Navigant Research. Green Charge has been designing and deploying commercial energy storage since 2009, with systems installed throughout the United States. As part of ENGIE, the largest independent power producer in the world, Green Charge’s mission is to use energy storage to power the world efficiently and sustainably. Our team consists of top energy storage industry experts who provide performance-based solutions to optimize the value of energy for our customers. Our ecosystem of solar, EV charging, and energy efficiency experts allows our customers to combine energy storage and renewables easily and economically. 

/by