Non-profit public utility Morrisville Water and Light (MWL) is strengthening the reliability of its network following the unanimous approval of its board of directors for an energy storage services agreement with Encore renewable energy to develop a 5 MW battery storage project in Morrisville, Vermont.
“We are thrilled to enter into this innovative partnership with Encore,” said Scott Johnstone, GM of MWL. “This project underlines our commitment to providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy solutions for our community.”
The project involves the installation of a 4.96 MW battery system near the Salvage Yard Solar project, capable of delivering 22,000 kWh at full charge. This significant capacity, approximately 60% of MWL’s typical peak demand, positions MWL to use the batteries for a variety of purposes, including surge absorption, peak demand reduction, participation in the ISO NE capacity market, and grid resilience during emergencies such as brownouts.
Additionally, the energy storage system will enable MWL to engage in energy arbitrage, optimizing energy costs by charging the batteries during off-peak hours and discharging them during periods of high demand.
“Providing energy storage services through this system will deliver significant cost savings to MWL and reduce the carbon intensity of the grid during times of peak demand,” said Jesse Stowell, CCO of Encore. “This partnership is a great example of how communities can become leaders in the clean energy transition and deliver smart energy solutions to their customers.”
The project is expected to start in November 2026.
“This project is a crucial step forward in our transition to a clean energy future,” said Johnstone. “With the changing landscape of energy generation in the state, including a state policy that discourages hydropower, both from Hydro Quebec and more locally our Green River hydropower plant, combined with the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy, battery storage is emerging as a critical component in improving reliability and controlling costs so that we can keep rates affordable for our customers.”
News item from Encore Renewable Energy
