The New York Energy Authority (NYPA) is seeking to change almost a dozen, if not all, of its gas-fired peaker vegetation with 4 hour battery storage installations in a brand new tender introduced late final week.
The NYPA says a brand new examine has concluded that its so-called “small clear energy vegetation” – ten gas-fired peaker vegetation positioned at six areas in New York Metropolis and one on Lengthy Island – could possibly be changed by bulk-scale battery storage initiatives.
The examine was ready in session with the PEAK Coalition, a bunch of environmental justice and clear vitality advocates and demonstrated that four-hour length battery storage has the potential to interchange the gasoline audio system by 2030, if sure key circumstances have been met.
It’s a signal that the utility’s objective of decarbonising by 2035, and the New York State’s objective of delivering a zero-emission electrical energy sector by 2040, could possibly be met properly earlier than these deadlines.
“Because the State strikes forward with offshore wind, photo voltaic, and transmission initiatives that can ship extra clear vitality to New York Metropolis, NYPA is inspired by the modelling and forecasting on this collaborative examine that exhibits that we could possibly expedite our transition to cleaner vitality applied sciences at our in-city vegetation, offering that we are able to proceed to make sure a dependable, resilient vitality system for New York Metropolis,” said Justin E. Driscoll, NYPA interim president and CEO.
The ten NY Metropolis gas-fired peaker vegetation have a nameplate score of 517MW to supply native reliability and grid resiliency, although they function occasionally – solely round 10% of the time, and solely when directed to take action to fulfill elevated vitality calls for.
The evaluation exhibits that four-hour vitality storage might present sufficient vitality to completely change the operations of every particular person peaker plant as early as 2030, due to the elevated ranges of renewable vitality.
New York State is concentrating on 70% renewable vitality technology by 2030 and is investing over $US33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission initiatives throughout the state, one other $US1.8 billion to scale up photo voltaic and is aiming to develop 9GW price of offshore wind by 2035.
In response to the optimistic findings from the examine, the NYPA has issued a Request for Proposals for growth of bulk-scale battery storage initiatives that are due in by Might 24 with potential awards introduced as quickly as July 1.
“These findings assist earlier experiences put out by PEAK – that battery storage might change the operations of every particular person NYPA peaker energy plant in NYC, coupled with clear renewable vitality sources on the grid, by 2030,” stated Eddie Bautista, govt director of the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance.
“Whereas we await additional analyses from NYISO and Con Edison relating to reliability/capability questions, these findings invite a broader and bolder query: can clear renewable vitality plus battery storage additionally change all of the Metropolis’s older, polluting non-public peaker vegetation?
“Can NYC turn out to be the primary metropolis within the nation to have all its peaker vegetation changed? We consider we are able to – particularly if we comply with the visionary route established by the New York State Local weather Management and Group Safety Act.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about local weather change, clear expertise, and electrical autos for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electrical autos and clear applied sciences for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His most popular mode of transport is his ft.
