Swell Energy and ConEd Partner on Distributed Power Projects

Swell Energy previously announced plans to secure $450 million in funding to facilitate the growth of distributed power initiatives across three states. A recent agreement between the venture-backed company and New York City’s utility, ConEd, now offers insight into the potential scope of these projects.

New Residential Solar and Storage Program in Queens

The Los Angeles-based firm is introducing a new program combining residential solar power with energy storage for homeowners located in Queens. This rollout will be conducted in collaboration with ConEd.

The initiative will result in the installation of solar-powered home battery systems for qualifying ConEd customers.

New York’s Energy Storage Goals

New York State has set an ambitious target of achieving 3 gigawatts of installed energy storage capacity by 2030. This is part of a broader effort to transition the state’s entire electricity grid to zero emissions by 2040.

The ConEd project aims to establish a reliable backup power source for customers in Queens. This will allow them to operate independently of the main energy grid, thereby freeing up resources for those without storage technology.

A Unique Virtual Power Plant Approach

This New York virtual power plant distinguishes itself from other Swell projects by dedicating available capacity to specific distribution circuits. This targeted approach reduces strain on circuits during periods of high demand, as explained by a Swell representative.

By utilizing this virtual power plant, ConEd can maintain network reliability without the need for costly upgrades to transmission and distribution infrastructure. This represents a “non-wires solution” to address increasing energy demands, according to Swell.

Comparison to Swell’s Projects in Other States

Swell’s projects in Hawaii focus on providing system-level capacity and frequency regulation. Meanwhile, their California program, in partnership with Southern California Edison, delivers demand-response capacity for managing baseload energy and accommodating overall load growth within the operational area.

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