by Navy Yard
August 12, 2021
Categories: Energy, Events, Press Releases,
Citizens Energy Vice President Michael Kennedy today flipped the switch on a 6.4-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to provide power cost savings to the Philadelphia Navy Yard and beyond through green energy technology.
The nephew of Citizens Energy Chairman, and former Massachusetts Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, was joined by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and PIDC leadership in dedicating the innovative project at the Navy Yard. The 1,200-acre former military base has been redeveloped into a thriving mixed-use campus led by PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer of the historic shipyard.
“Everyone at Citizens Energy is proud to be helping Philadelphia transition to a greener future with Battery Storage Technology,” said Kennedy, who heads up new business development for the Boston-based nonprofit. “This system will be the largest of its kind in the city, and allow the Philadelphia Navy Yard to make better use of renewable energy as well as save money for local business and residents.”
The 2,240-lithium ion battery system housed in the industrial portion of the campus will provide a cheaper source of energy for the business tenants of the Navy Yard through peak shaving technology when the demand and cost of power is highest throughout the day. At times when the price of energy is stable locally, the BESS will participate in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) Interconnection’s frequency regulation market to regulate power on the regional grid.
“Completion of this project by Citizens Energy and PIDC is a great achievement for our City and the Navy Yard,” stated Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. “Philadelphia continues to be innovative by introducing new systems like this battery energy storage system which not only improves the quality of life for residents and businesses, but uses energy more efficiently, reduces our carbon footprint, and helps Philadelphia reach our clean energy vision goals.”
“PIDC is thrilled to partner with Citizens Energy to bring this battery storage to the Navy Yard,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President, Navy Yard. “Not only does this battery energy storage system provide a reliable, cost-effective, innovative solution for ongoing energy requirements, but it is a great foundation to support significant future job growth as businesses continue to locate and grow within Philadelphia and at the Navy Yard.”
“We have an enormous responsibility to our community and to our planet to not only make clean choices, but to ensure those choices are available to everyone,” said former Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph P. Kennedy II, who founded Citizens Energy Corporation over 40 years ago to make life’s basic needs more affordable. “This project not only reduces the cost of electricity for the Navy Yard, but also plays a key role in our fight against climate change.”
The 14.8-megwatt hour system represents a cutting-edge partnership between nonprofits that will usher in a new era of energy infrastructure at the landmark site. Battery storage technology is imperative to ensuring the success of the renewable energy revolution because it has the capacity to make green power available for future use. Facilities connected to battery storage technology will have uninterrupted use of power during major local outages and facilitate resilient buildings and microgrids.
Built next door to a retired steam plant, the Navy Yard BESS is the latest project to join an array of Navy Yard innovative and sustainable technologies and drives Philadelphia towards a cleaner and greener future. The BESS also joins the ranks of industrial and shipbuilding companies, cell and gene therapy production facilities, and global businesses at the historic campus, all powered by one of the East Coast’s largest unregulated electric grids.
This is Citizens Energy’s second completed BESS, having just unveiled its first in Western Massachusetts. The Boston-based nonprofit will soon complete several microgrid projects in other parts of New England and currently has over 40 solar projects in its national portfolio.