Philip Ciulla
 Account Executive, New England
CPower Energy Management

Guest Contributor

Freedom Energy’s strategic partnership with CPower provides valuable OnDemand Energy Storage solutions for clients in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.  

Connecticut is at the forefront of the energy storage movement and CPower is leading the way in helping clients deploy more batteries. The state recently recognized the company as an early adopter of energy storage solutions by awarding CPower a Green Bank Award. The company was one of the first eligible contractors to submit a storage project to Connecticut’s Energy Storage Solutions program, which offers incentives to clients to reduce the cost of energy storage systems. The program is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), paid for by electric ratepayers, and administered by the Green Bank, Eversource, and United Illuminating.  

For the first tranche Connecticut’s Energy Storage Solutions program in which a total of 50 MW was awarded, CPower was awarded almost 40 MW of battery systems. The company has submitted additional projects for the next stage of the program assisting clients and the state to achieve their energy storage goals.  

The second tranche of awards will include up to 100 MW in projects. Applications are currently being accepted. Recognizing the benefits that energy storage provides clients and the state, CPower supports efforts to accelerate the awarding of incentives in the next stage of the Energy Storage Solutions program so that battery solutions can spread across Connecticut faster.  

CPower currently has the largest dollar amount of C&I projects in the Energy Storage Solutions queue in Connecticut and leads all contractors in C&I projects underway. Across New England, CPower has more than 100 MW of C&I battery projects in the design phase. 

What is in it for C&I Clients? 

Incentives in New England states, such as Connecticut, help organizations reach their sustainability goals while improving facility resiliency and decreasing operations, maintenance, and energy expenses. For example, Connecticut’s Energy Storage Solutions program offers organizations upfront incentives for installed battery capacity, plus performance-based incentives for dispatching the battery capacity to the grid. In doing so, Connecticut’s statewide battery program fosters a more reliable and resilient electric distribution system, especially for vulnerable communities. 

Commercial and industrial building owners can save money through the Energy Solutions Program by using batteries to reduce peak demand management charges.  

Incentives for C&I building owners include: 

  • Upfront incentives that reduce up to 50% of the battery’s cost in exchange for allowing the battery to reduce electrical grid stress on hot summer days for 10-years.  
  • Performance incentives paid twice a year for 10-years based on the average power the battery contributes to the grid during critical periods.  
  • Additional incentives for eligible small businesses, critical facilities, customers replacing fossil fuel generators and customers in outage prone Grid Edge areas. 
  • Savings. As an example, a healthcare facility in Connecticut projected $186,000 in on-bill savings in the first year after installing a battery through CPower. Importantly, these on-bill savings are in addition to the performance incentives paid by utilities and grid operators. 

Strategic Partners Deliver Solutions 

Freedom Energy partners with CPower to provide OnDemand Energy Storage solutions for clients in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. In working with CPower as an energy-storage-as-a-service (ESaaS) provider, New England facilities can reap energy storage benefits such as on-bill savings and grid services revenue without the upfront costs or responsibilities of ownership.  

CPower will design, install, and operate a battery on an organization’s behalf, and cover all upfront costs, thereby allowing C&I customers to avoid the interconnection engineering, capital investment, and O&M responsibilities associated with a battery project. 

Energy Storage Solutions projects facilitated by CPower in partnership with Freedom Energy provide clients with a path to more affordable, resilient, and greener energy.   

To learn more about energy storage solutions contact our team at solutions@felpower.com.  

Published: June 20, 2023

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