TYNGSBORO, MA – July 31, 2014 — Beacon Power, LLC (“Beacon”) the world’s leading manufacturer of grid-scale flywheel energy storage systems, reached full commercial operations at their flywheel energy storage plant in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania. The plant includes 200 flywheels and provides 20 MW of frequency regulation to the PJM interconnection market — the world’s largest wholesale electricity market.
Beacon also announced that its Series 400 flywheel systems, which began commercial operation in 2008, have now exceeded six million cumulative operating hours. In addition to the Pennsylvania project, the company operates two other commercial flywheel facilities, including a 20-megawatt plant in Stephentown, New York.
“We are thrilled to announce this latest achievement,” said Barry Brits, President and Chief Executive Officer for Beacon Power. “The project is another successful demonstration of Beacon’s energy storage technology, helping to facilitate a more stable grid here in Pennsylvania. We are grateful for the support of all who helped make the project a success including state and local officials, hard-working Pennsylvania subcontractors, and members of the local communities.”
Brits continued, “we have logged well over 6 million hours of operation on our Series 400 flywheel systems and continue to refine the performance characteristics while reducing pricing so that the Beacon flywheels offer a more compelling role in a broader set of applications such as renewable integration, industrial power quality & efficiency management and microgrids.”
In response to FERC Order 755, which incents participation from fast responding energy storage units like the Hazle project, the PJM market has become more efficient enabling it to procure approximately 20% less capacity to provide its required frequency regulation without an impact on system reliability.
About Beacon Power
Beacon Power is a pioneer and global leader in the design, development and commercial deployment of flywheel-based energy storage systems offering proven solutions at the utility-scale for power grid efficiency, frequency regulation, grid security, renewable power integration and other ancillary services.
Beacon has been providing grid stability services to electric power grids in the U.S. since 2008 and has over 400 flywheel storage systems and 40 MW deployed. The company’s headquarters and manufacturing facility is in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. For more information visit: www.beaconpower.com