GMP’s Network of Stored Energy Supports New England Grid During Historic Total Eclipse While Reducing Costs for All GMP Customers
- Clean, stored energy flowed as solar production dipped across New England, cutting carbon and costs in two ways for customers
- GMP’s Frequency Regulation Program used stored energy to balance the grid during the eclipse, reducing costs for all GMP customers
- Plus, GMP’s 50MW of stored energy reduced energy costs for customers as usage increased
COLCHESTER, Vt. – As the historic eclipse darkened the skies over New England Monday, Green Mountain Power (GMP) turned to its growing network of stored energy in batteries to replace solar production and meet grid needs. It was seamless, carbon free, and cost-saving for all GMP customers.
Customers participating in GMP’s groundbreaking Frequency Regulation pilot program shared stored energy from their home batteries to help regional grid operator, ISO-New England (ISO-NE), maintain a steady flow of energy across the region as the solar production dipped. GMP’s entire network of stored energy then flowed, to offset peak energy costs as usage increased later in the day. The dual uses of energy storage in this unique celestial event highlights why GMP is continuing to grow its energy storage programs for customers.
“Our stored energy programs are a great example of the future of the grid happening right now in homes all over Vermont. They offer local resiliency and grid stability while importantly lowering costs for all. The total solar eclipse that crossed New England proved to be a great opportunity to show this in action,” said Mari McClure, GMP President and CEO.
GMP’s Frequency Regulation Pilot program is 500 energy storage customers who share stored energy through GMP with ISO-NE to keep a steady, regulated flow of energy on the grid at all times, a critical function for regional system safety and reliability for customers. Frequency Regulation is a regular part of grid operations, but it was intensified due to the solar eclipse. GMP plans to expand and grow this program, as more intermittent renewable energy replaces fossil fuel use regionally. This program has saved all GMP customers half a million dollars in the last year alone, as ISO-NE compensates for this flexible energy resource.
GMP has about 6,000 batteries in customers’ homes through its Powerwall leasing program and its Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. These are the first, fully tariffed, home battery programs in the country, which provide seamless backup power during severe weather, and also help to reduce costs for all GMP customers during peak energy days through energy sharing, which happened after the eclipse Monday evening.
With residential and utility scale batteries, GMP has 50MW of energy storage and growing, that acts as virtual power plant.
GMP customer Tom Myer of Sudbury has home batteries through GMP and shared his excitement at being able to help Vermont and New England during the historic event. “This is cool that you can replace lost solar during eclipse with saved power. So happy to be a part,” he wrote.
GMP’s home battery programs are proven technology, providing backup power during severe weather to customers since they first launched as pilot programs in 2017. GMP’s website has more information about GMP’s residential battery programs which provide seamless backup power and unique energy sharing.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power serves more than 275,000 residential and business customers in Vermont with electricity that’s 100% carbon free and 80% renewable on an annual basis. GMP is partnering with customers to provide solutions that deliver resiliency and affordability while cutting carbon and costs for all. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. GMP was named to Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies in the World list, the sixth time earning that honor. In 2023 and 2021 the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) honored GMP as a nationwide leader in energy transformation. And, in 2022 GMP was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies for its groundbreaking resiliency work to transform the grid for customers.
Our stored energy programs are a great example of the future of the grid happening right now in homes all over Vermont. They offer local resiliency and grid stability while importantly lowering costs for all. The total solar eclipse that crossed New England proved to be a great opportunity to show this in action.
Mari McClure, GMP President and CEO
