New England Power Pool to create pilot programme for energy storage

New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), the group of electric utilities, generators, and service providers within the ISO New England region, has unanimously chosen a pilot programme for alternative technologies, including energy storage, to provide regulation service.

According to Beacon Power Corporation, the programme’s schedule would allow service providers to be paid as early as mid-November. Beacon Power is currently building flywheel-based energy storage systems in Tyngsboro and intends to participate.

The “Alternative Technologies Regulation Pilot Program” allows for up to 13 megawatts of alternative technologies to be connected to the grid by various suppliers to provide regulation services.

Beacon Power, which is the only company that has yet publicly announced its participation, plans to connect up to five megawatts of energy storage adjacent to the company’s headquarters, beginning later this year.

Referring to the pilot programme, Bill Capp, Beacon Power president and CEO said, “Not only does Beacon intend to participate under the programme’s guidelines, we will also be able to earn revenue from the regulation services we provide.”

In early August, ISO New England and NEPOOL jointly submitted market rules to establish the programme to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for approval. FERC’s decision is expected within 60 days.