New York City utility ConEdison has partnered with Centrica Business Solutions to turn an empty Brooklyn parking lot into a new type of hybrid facility, combining battery storage and electric vehicle charging.
The 5 MW/ 15MWh battery system holds enough power for about 5,000 apartments for four hours of peak summer usage. The facility will also house 18 direct-current fast chargers and will be among the largest charging facilities in the city. This project is the only of its kind through ConEdison’s rate case plans through 2022.
The batteries and chargers will be grid-connected, and Centrica will sell services from the storage into wholesale markets as part of a virtual power plant. The batteries will be charged from ConEdison’s grid during overnight hours when demand is low and power is cheaper. ConEdison will lease the land to Centrica in this arrangement.
The direct-current fast chargers can provide up to 350 kW and are capable of fully charging a vehicle in less than an hour.
ConEdison’s sustainability strategy
ConEdison said that it bases its decision-making and planning process on projections for climate change, according to its recently released 2020 sustainability strategy report. It outlined a vision that includes tripling energy efficiency by 2030, achieving 100% clean energy by 2040, and “all-in” support for electric vehicles.
ConEdison has planned more than $310 million in investment by 2025 to incentivize the connection of thousands of new EV charging stations. The utility said it will enable deployment of more than 21,000 level 2 plugs and 525 DC fast chargers. The grid operator is also collaborating with the NYC Department of Transportation to install another 120 curbside level 2 chargers in a pilot program.
With a portfolio of more than 2.8 GW of solar and wind projects in 20 states, and with another 400 MW under construction, ConEdison’s report said it invested more than $600 million in large-scale renewables in 2020. Its renewables portfolio is comprised of 85% solar and 15% wind.
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Now we have come full circle from Thomas Edison wanting DC power on every block, that was thrown out by AC power producers, to DC power back on every block powered by DC solar. We still convert back to AC so the homeowner can vary power through small transformers but it proves that if solar and lithium batteries were available in the 19th century, Mr. Edison would have won the “power wars.” We could go back to full DC in every home with brushless DC motors and electronic voltage regulators like Motor Homes have now, and Utilities could bring AC to the Battery chargers but DC could be fed the rest of the way.