Not-for-profit public utility Morrisville Water and Light (MWL) is bolstering its grid reliability after the unanimous approval from its board of trustees for an energy storage service agreement with Encore Renewable Energy for the development of a 5-MW battery storage project in Morrisville, Vermont.

“We are thrilled to embark on this innovative partnership with Encore,” said Scott Johnstone, GM at MWL. “This project underscores our commitment to delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable energy solutions for our community.”

The project includes the installation of a 4.96-MW battery system near the Salvage Yard Solar project, capable of providing 22,000 kWh on a full charge. This substantial capacity, approximately 60% of MWL’s typical peak demand, positions MWL to use the batteries for various purposes, including voltage spike absorption, peak demand reduction, participation in the ISO NE capacity market and grid resilience during emergencies such as brownouts.

Additionally, the energy storage system will let MWL engage in energy arbitrage, optimizing energy costs by charging the batteries during off-peak hours and discharging them during periods of high demand.

“Providing energy storage services from this system will create significant cost savings for MWL and reduce the carbon intensity of the grid during times of peak demand,” said Jesse Stowell, Encore’s CCO. “This partnership is a prime example of how communities can become leaders in the clean energy transition and deliver smart energy solutions to their customers.”

The project is scheduled to commence operations in November 2026.

“This project is a critical step forward in our transition to a clean energy future,” Johnstone said. “With the shifting landscape of energy generation in the state, including a state policy that discourages hydro power, both from Hydro Quebec and more locally our Green River hydro facility, combined with the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy, battery storage is emerging as a crucial component in enhancing reliability and managing costs so we can keep rates affordable for our customers.”

News item from Encore Renewable Energy