Microgrid project will provide energy savings and resilience to major electronics recycling facility
PVTIME – ESS Inc., a manufacturer of long-duration iron flow batteries for commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications, was selected by TerraSol Energies, Inc., a developer and manager of turnkey solar and storage solutions for commercial customers, to deliver an ESS Energy Warehouse™ flow battery at a commercial facility in Pennsylvania. The Energy Warehouse™ system will be integrated with solar PV as part of a microgrid to reduce electricity demand charges and provide safe, sustainable backup power to Sycamore International, an Information Technology Asset Disposition (ITAD) company with a focus on data security.
“Sycamore International is a highly discerning, environmentally conscious customer that wants a clean and reliable long-duration storage solution paired with solar to ensure energy security and resilience at their facility,” said Dave Santoleri, President of TerraSol Energies. “The ESS Energy Warehouse delivers the right combination of performance, value and long operating life, at a superior levelized cost of storage metric.”
“Power outages have a huge impact on our business – costing upwards of $40,000 per day in lost revenue,” said Steve Figgatt, CEO of Sycamore International. “We needed a solution that would ensure long-duration backup power when needed, with a favorable ROI and no safety issues. We ruled out lithium-ion batteries and other flow battery chemistries due to toxicity and cost. ESS’s iron-based flow battery offers the right combination of safety and sustainability with long asset life to match the expected life of our solar power system.”
Commercial and industrial (C&I) energy users routinely face steep demand charges based on peak usage periods, in addition to general energy consumption costs. By utilizing long-duration energy storage to shave electricity use during these peak periods, companies can realize significant savings, leverage renewable energy resources to reduce their carbon footprint and provide resilience against power outages from extreme weather events and other causes.
“C&I customers are becoming increasingly aware of the cost and resilience benefits that long-duration energy storage can bring to their operations,” said Hugh McDermott, Senior VP of Sales and Business Development. “At the same time, there is an accelerating demand for sustainable storage solutions that are safe for both people and the planet and do not rely on rare earth minerals and components with supply chain risks. Our flow battery products utilize iron, salt and water – ingredients that are easily sourced – and are made in America with domestic components, offering a core strategic technology to enable the global energy transition.”
