The Massachusetts company behind a planned electricity storage system in Lincoln is working on similar projects in six states using what it describes as a novel way to store energy.
Form Energy of Somerville is developing an iron-air multi-day storage technology capable of holding four days’ worth of electricity.
Supporters of the project in Maine — which is likely four years from completion — say it will be the world’s largest multi-day energy storage facility.
The idea is to make sure Maine and other New England states have enough power to meet demand on the hottest days of summer and the coldest days of winter.
“The opportunity to store energy up to 100 hours is really a game changer for our energy future,” said Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office.
Burgess said the facility — which will be built at a former paper mill site — will look like large shipping containers with stacks of batteries inside.
On Aug. 6, the state announced a $147 million federal grant to support the project, which will be matched by private funding. It’s part of a $389 million regional grant to New England states funded by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Form Energy says construction is expected to begin in 2027, with hopes of being operational the following year. The company already has similar projects in the pipeline in Minnesota, Colorado, Georgia, Virginia, California and New York, some of which are expected to go online next year.
In response to questions from Spectrum News, Form Energy said their technology is designed to work in conjunction with lithium-ion batteries that already help support the electrical grid.
“These batteries are a complement to lithium-ion battery technologies currently supporting the grid, which can generally dispatch energy for only 2-4 hours at a time,” the company said. “The project is expected to be primarily charged by renewable energy” that will come from the grid that serves New England.
The plant is expected to use about 50 acres and will be located on part of the site of the former Lincoln Paper and Tissue mill, which closed in 2015. Burgess said the Lincoln site offered a redevelopment opportunity and is near onshore wind farms, which will be able to send energy to the storage facility when it is produced in excess of current need.
The project is expected to create about 100 short term construction jobs and a small number of full-time positions.
Beyond that, Burgess said he hopes it will be a catalyst for more technological development in the state. He said it checks several boxes, including helping the state meet clean energy and climate change goals and the potential to spark economic development.
On the climate side, the 85-megawatt energy storage facility in Lincoln will help the state get closer to its goal of installing 400 megawatts of energy storage by 2030.
Form Energy said it anticipates that “a good amount of power stored will come from the wind generation in Maine during times of over-production. Then the power will be dispatched and delivered to the grid and energy consumers during times of need.”
In a statement, Maria Robinson of the U.S. Department of Energy, said the project should help take the burden off aging electricity transmission systems strained by extreme storms.
“We look forward to working with the New England states as we support projects that will harden systems, improve energy reliability and affordability — all while generating union jobs for highly skilled workers,” she said.
September 12, 2024
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August 20, 2024