ENGIE North America Announces Largest Utility-Scale Energy Storage Installation in Massachusetts

3 MW/6 MWh energy storage system to be installed at Mt. Tom Solar,
adjacent to former coal plant; benefits include lower utility capacity
costs/demand charges, reduced stress on electric grid, and optimization
of solar energy

HOLYOKE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ENGIE North America and Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) today announced
plans for the largest utility-scale energy storage installation in
Massachusetts. Green Charge, an ENGIE NA subsidiary, will operate the
three-megawatt energy storage system at Mt. Tom Solar, which began
operation in January of this year adjacent to the former Mt. Tom Power
Station. The system will be used to optimize intermittent solar energy
and reduce utility capacity costs for HG&E, the system’s customer, while
reducing stress on the HG&E distribution system. This project will
contribute to rate stabilization for HG&E customers over the next 20
years. In addition, customers will benefit from improved power quality
and reliability. Green Charge expects to complete installation by April
2018, in time for the peak summer months when capacity costs are highest.

As part of Massachusetts’ Peak Demand Management Program, HG&E was
awarded a $475,000 MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER) Grant. The
funds will be used to contract with, schedule, measure, and analyze this
state-of-the-art energy storage system. UMass Amherst will quantify the
peak reduction value to the distribution system, accounting for
equipment value, cost reduction potential, and overall project data. The
goal of the grant is to provide research and recommendations on the
future distribution system value of battery storage devices throughout
the Commonwealth.

“Massachusetts is proud to be a national leader in energy efficiency
programs that reduce overall consumption and we are committed to
continuing our work to improve energy costs disproportionately affected
by times of peak demand,” said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.
“The demonstration projects funded through these grants will strengthen
our innovation economy and provide the Commonwealth with a roadmap for
reducing our most expensive energy loads and securing our energy future.”

While still an emerging energy innovation in Massachusetts, worldwide
energy storage is rapidly being considered as a key resource that
optimizes clean, renewable energy. Electricity produced from the Mt. Tom
5.76 MW-DC solar farm will be stored in the energy storage system
isolated from, but interconnected to, HG&E’s electricity grid. This
stored power will be called upon during local and regional peak load
periods to cost-effectively satisfy demand, while reducing utility costs
and demand charges for customers. Demand charges are incurred for
electricity and capacity taken from the power grid and used during peak
demand periods.

“We are pleased to work with ENGIE on the Mt. Tom energy storage
project, which will produce peak demand and asset management benefits
that will help HG&E stabilize electric rates over the long term,” said
Jim Lavelle, HG&E’s Manager. “This project also adds a measure of
resiliency to our local grid, helping us to better serve our customers.”

Over a 20-year term, HG&E will also use energy storage to reduce the
burden on its electrical distribution system, thus increasing overall
asset life. Green Charge systems are monitored, optimized, and
controlled through its proprietary GridSynergy™ software platform.

“Solar and energy storage are keys to a low-carbon, low-cost energy
future and HG&E is taking the lead by moving forward proactively to
deploy what we see as the future for the energy industry,” said Frank
Demaille, President and CEO of ENGIE North America.

“For several years Holyoke has taken the lead with respect to renewable
energy deployment and carbon footprint management,” said Mayor Alex
Morse. “Battery storage will enhance our ability to increase our
renewable energy portfolio, and we are hopeful that the Mt. Tom Energy
Storage project will be the first of many storage projects that help us
advance our environmental stewardship objectives.”

About ENGIE:

ENGIE manages a range of energy businesses in the United States and
Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural gas
and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution and sales, retail energy
sales, and comprehensive services to help customers run their facilities
more efficiently and optimize energy use and expense. Nearly 100 percent
of the company’s power generation portfolio is low carbon or carbon
free. Globally, the company is the largest independent power producer in
the world, with operations in 70 countries employing 153,000 people,
including 1,000 researchers in 11 R&D centers. For more information,
please visit www.engie-na.com,
@ENGIENorthAm, and www.engie.com.

About Holyoke Gas & Electric:

Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) is an innovative, municipally-owned
utility that was formed in 1902. Today, HG&E provides electricity,
natural gas, and fiber optic telecommunications services to over 18,000
customers. For more information, please visit www.hged.com.

About Green Charge:

In 2017 Green Charge was named the number one distributed energy storage
company by Navigant Research. Green Charge has been designing and
deploying commercial energy storage since 2009, with systems installed
throughout the United States. As part of ENGIE, the largest independent
power producer in the world, Green Charge’s mission is to use energy
storage to power the world efficiently and sustainably. Our team
consists of top energy storage industry experts who provide
performance-based solutions to optimize the value of energy for our
customers. Our ecosystem of solar, EV charging, and energy efficiency
experts allows our customers to combine energy storage and renewables
easily and economically. Visit www.greencharge.net
for more information.

Contacts

ENGIE
Carol Churchill, 1 617-886-8759
carol.churchill@na.engie.com
www.engie-na.com
@ENGIENorthAm
or
Anne Smith, 1 408-313-8089
asmith@greencharge.net
www.greencharge.net
or
Kate
Sullivan, 1 413-536-9333
ksullivan@hged.com
www.hged.com