Convergent and Orange and Rockland Utilities Develop 12MW / 57 MWh Battery Storage System in NY

The system, designed, constructed, and operated by Convergent, will deliver more cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable electricity to 7,500 O&R customers in the Orange County communities of the Town of Warwick and the Village of Warwick, and parts of the villages of Florida and Greenwood Lake and the hamlet of Pine Island.

Energy storage (typically battery storage) offers utilities a way to increase capacity on the electric grid by charging the batteries when electricity demand is low and discharging them back onto the grid when high demand could impact supply.

This program stems from O&R’s concerted effort to reduce costs for customers and incorporate new technologies to maintain efficient, resilient, reliable, and sustainable electric operations.

Through a competitive bidding process, O&R selected Convergent to cost-effectively increase capacity at its Wisner substation in Warwick, creating benefits for customers by supplementing electric supply on high-demand days and providing substation backup, thereby increasing service reliability.

In addition, as wholesale and retail energy markets develop and mature, Convergent will be able to sell power from battery storage system into those markets to earn additional revenue, further reducing the cost of the system.

Orange & Rockland President and CEO Robert Sanchez said, “This project represents a positive, innovative achievement in O&R’s continuous efforts to provide more sustainable, local power while minimizing its costs to our customers.”

Convergent Chief Operating and Financial Officer Frank Genova said, “Convergent is powering the clean energy transition through AI-powered energy storage, which is critical to a more sustainable, cost-effective and reliable electric grid. O&R’s decision to add battery storage demonstrates their commitment to their customers, their preparedness and strategic planning, and their willingness to embrace contemporary solutions to meet increasing demands on our energy infrastructure.”