The next time New York City suffers a blackout, residents of the 58-story Barclay Tower will still have the lights on – thanks to an on-site energy storage system providing 225 kilowatts (kW) of alternative power to the building.
The luxury high rise near the new World Trade Center is using the JouleSystem, developed by Demand Energy Networks that houses batteries made by C&D Technologies.
The technology stores energy from the grid when rates are the lowest and releases it during peak periods when demand (and rates) are high. The system installed at the Barclay Tower is capable of generating 2 megawatt-hours (MWh) of stored energy capacity.
"The reality is we need to be aggressive in finding ways to be smarter about the future of energy," says Josh London, vice president of Glenwood Management, which manages the Barclay Tower. "Everyone I know thinks about green energy; about how they can create a cleaner future. Our work with Demand Energy lets us take advantage of renewables and lowers our electricity costs as well. It’s a win at every level."
One of the real estate management company’s corporate initiatives is to create net-zero buildings. Over time, Glenwood Management plans to install the systems in some, and maybe all its properties, networking them together as a source of off-grid electricity that helps reduce its energy costs. It also tested the technology at The Caldwell, another New York apartment building.
Likewise, Demand Energy envisions creating distributed energy storage networks across cities like New York so that all of its customers can benefit from low-cost, off-grid power.
"We’re looking forward to the hard data in terms of energy use and savings," says Dave Curry, CEO of Demand Energy. "Between ConEd selling power at reduced off-peak prices, and the ability to store renewable electricity, we’re expecting big things that include bringing balance to power grids for the future of energy delivery worldwide."
Demand Energy of Liberty Lake, Washington, was created in 2008 and has attracted about $5.2 million in private investment, according to financial filings. The company is providing the energy storage component of a smart grid test being conducted by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory in the state of Washington.
Aside from JouleSystem, Demand Energy also develops Grid.Controller, an energy and building management software application; and Grid.Energy, an advanced battery technology.
Interest in energy storage technology is growing as renewable energy companies seek to address concerns about the intermittent nature of sources such as wind or solar. California may even require it as a condition for approval of future projects.
The US Department of Energy is committing $120 million to development of advanced storage technologies over the next five years, starting with $20 million this year.
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