The public power town of Wellesley, Mass., on Nov. 7 flipped the switch on a new 4.99-megawatt battery energy storage system project that will help the community meet rigorous climate action goals set by town officials and Massachusetts.
Wellesley Municipal Light Plant is partnering with Citizens Energy on the project, which will provide electricity cost savings to residents during peak demand periods and provide emergency backup power to essential town services in the event of a power outage.
With its six 20-foot battery containers and six inverter containers, the BESS project will have the capacity to store more than 20 megawatt-hours of energy, making it one of the larger municipal energy storage systems in the region.
Located adjacent to a WMLP substation, the BESS project will charge and store energy during off-peak hours when demand and prices are lower, and discharge that energy during higher-cost periods of peak energy demand.
This peak-shaving approach provides significant energy savings and environmental benefits for WMLP customers. In addition, the system will provide a reliable backup power source for essential municipal services, ensuring that critical facilities remain operational during emergencies.
“In partnership with Citizens Energy, this battery project leverages energy storage technology into cost savings for the WMLP and its customers while supporting the town’s climate goals. It represents a key element among many of our other initiatives towards building a more reliable, environmentally sustainable, and resilient electric system and community,” said David Wood, WMLP Director.
The BESS project is expected to yield more than $8 million in savings for WMLP ratepayers by reducing reliance on expensive peak power. By directly reducing the town’s peak demand that would otherwise be supplied from fossil fuel-based generation, the BESS project also aligns with the Town’s Climate Action Plan goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“Wellesley residents are lucky to have such a forward-thinking municipal light plant. By reducing peak demand that is met by dirtier and more expensive power sources, this battery project will slash emissions and save customers money. It will also increase the Town’s resilience against power outages,” said Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem. “The project is an example that the rest of Massachusetts should follow. That’s why I’m working on state-level policies to ensure that everyone in the Commonwealth can benefit from the deployment of energy storage systems.”
