New York Affordable Housing Complex Installs 3.75 MWh Battery System
An affordable housing complex in Buffalo, New York, has installed a large battery storage system to provide backup power and help manage electricity costs. The project at Peace Bridge Place demonstrates how energy storage could support residential buildings.
Developed by Viridi and Good Carbon Co., the system has a capacity of 3.75 megawatt-hours (MWh). It stores electricity for use when demand rises or the power grid faces pressure.
Battery storage at Peace Bridge Place
The battery stores electricity in times of excess and supplies it when there is a deficit, thus helping the building to save money in the face of growing electricity prices. It can also provide power during outages. According to the companies involved, the system can supply the complex for several days.
Peace Bridge Place was selected partly because it runs entirely on electricity. The building uses geothermal energy for heating and cooling instead of natural gas. A dependable backup supply is therefore an important consideration.
The project also tackles the issue of the batteries located in the buildings of occupied residences, which could short-circuit and catch fire.
Focus on battery safety
Viridi spent six years and $10 million developing its battery safety technology, according to company executives. Its design separates individual battery cells to help limit the spread of heat if one fails.
The system underwent safety testing that involved deliberately triggering a battery failure. During one test, a piece of cheesecloth placed over the container did not char or ignite, according to the test record.
In April, the company announced that its system had met Underwriters Laboratories safety standards for indoor installation without additional fire suppression.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency funded the project. The project is about storing energy in batteries to make the grid more reliable and better manage the electricity costs while facilitating the transition to cleaner energy.
Implications for residential buildings
Viridi has manufactured battery systems in Buffalo since 2018. According to its chief executive, the company's production facility can manufacture battery packs holding enough energy to match approximately one day's electricity use for 14,000 average US homes.
The Peace Bridge Place installation shows how battery storage can be applied in affordable housing. Wider adoption will depend on costs, safety requirements and compatibility with existing electricity networks.
