New York State has announced the unveiling of a new energy storage project that uses an innovation in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology. The success of this project will demonstrate the safety and use of commercial energy storage systems that could enable more integration of renewable energy resources into the grid.

Located at the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in White Plains and funded in part by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the battery technology was developed by Cadenza Innovation Inc., Wilton, Connecticut, United States, to showcase energy storage’s role in enhancing demand management and grid flexibility and will help advance New York State’s nation-leading climate and clean energy goals.

“Safe battery storage paired with renewable energy sources will be necessary for New York to meet its nation-leading clean energy targets,” said NYPA President and CEO Gil C. Quiniones. “NYPA is pleased to collaborate with Cadenza Innovation and NYSERDA in investigating this unique proof-of-concept storage project, which could be a real game-changer in the promotion of safety and cost savings as we develop new, cleaner technologies to fight climate change and advance a safe, sustainable grid of the future.”

The project will further Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s clean energy agenda, which includes the nation’s most ambitious climate protection legislation and​ one of the largest energy storage target​s of 3 gigawatts on the electric grid by 2030. Under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) passed last year, New York State is mandated to achieve 70 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent zero-emission electricity by 2040.

Cadenza Innovation developed the technology and was awarded a grant from NYSERDA to showcase a safe, low-cost Li-ion battery that would be demonstrated at NYPA’s White Plains offices. Now in place following extensive development, testing and certification, the fully integrated, metal-enclosed and rack-mounted 250 kilowatt hour (kWh), 50 kilowatt (kW) battery storage unit will shave the Power Authority office’s peak electricity demand for up to five hours while delivering a cost-effective, high-​performance energy storage solution.

The total cost of the research and development project will be approximately $3 million. NYSERDA provided $1 million in support with Cadenza contributing the majority of remainder. NYPA contributed approximately $50,000 in addition to hosting the site, performing extensive research, and sharing its development and engineering expertise.
“NYSERDA is proud to support Cadenza’s energy storage project through our Innovation program as part of our efforts to scale up solutions that will accelerate our transition to a 100 percent zero-emission electric grid under Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading clean energy goals,” said NYSERDA Acting President and CEO Doreen M. Harris. “Cadenza’s demonstration project can serve as a model for future energy storage projects and supports New York State’s comprehensive approach to accelerating the market learning curve, driving down costs, and speeding up the deployment of the highest-value energy storage projects to deliver maximum benefits to New Yorkers and the electric grid.”

The technology is based on Cadenza Innovation’s UL-listed supercell battery architecture that substantially reduces the risk of propagation of thermal runaway while packaging components to lower costs and increase safety, resulting in a design that improves energy density and advances the Li-ion battery industry. Under the project, NYPA, the largest state public power organization in the nation, will investigate the effectiveness of the energy storage system at reducing the peak load typical of a commercial building. Once demonstrated, the system could be replicated at other businesses throughout New York State and beyond.

“Li-ion batteries are the most readily available and widely deployed technology to enable energy storage deployments for commercial and industrial markets, the grid and other applications,” said Cadenza Innovation Founder and CEO Dr. Christina Lampe-Onnerud. “It’s vital that safety be as much of a priority as performance and affordability and our team has reinvented Li-ion batteries to deliver best-in-class capabilities in all three areas. By working closely with NYPA and Hitachi ABB Power Grids, we’re excited to showcase that our platform delivers on what it promises and is ready for wide-scale use to help drive the transformation to cleaner energy sources.”

“We are delighted to collaborate with Cadenza to implement this innovative solution to help demonstrate the security of power supplies and further support NYPA’s goals for integration of renewable energy,” said Helena Garriga, head of Global Product Group Power & Industry Components, Hitachi ABB Power Grids. “Energy storage solutions will be a key part of the future grid in order to efficiently utilize renewable energy.”

“Cadenza is developing a very important technology that will help us to meet our goals in New York State and around the world,” said William Acker, executive director, The New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology (NY-BEST™) Consortium. “This project is consequential because it really enables what we’re trying to do with the future of energy storage in the electricity system.”

New York State’s Nation-Leading Climate Plan 
Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate plan is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State builds back better as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the CLCPA, New York is on a path to reach its mandated goals of a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040 including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York’s unprecedented ramp-up of clean energy including a $3.9 billion investment in 67 large-scale renewable projects across the state, the creation of more than 150,000 jobs in New York’s clean energy sector, a commitment to develop over 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035, and 1,800 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. New York’s Climate Action Council is working on a scoping plan to build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while meeting a goal to deliver 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities, and advancing progress towards the state’s 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 TBtus.

About NYPA
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA uses no tax money or state credit. It finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity.

About NYSERDA
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect the environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York State since 1975.

About Cadenza Innovation, Inc.
Founded in 2012 by lithium-ion battery experts with more than 125 patents, Cadenza Innovation is capitalizing on its intellectual property, field-proven operational and mass production expertise and partner network to establish itself as a leader in safe, low cost and energy dense storage solutions. Licensing its UL-listed technology for immediate access, company executives have held key roles at lithium-ion battery cell, pack and system provider Boston-Power, investment firm Bridgewater Associates, consulting firm Arthur D. Little and other globally respected organizations. Cadenza Innovation is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the states of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, Golden Seeds and private investors. The company’s corporate headquarters and advanced technology development labs are based in Connecticut.