Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., and Convergent Energy and Power, a top provider of energy storage solutions in North America, have successfully completed a 1.75 MW / 8.4 MWh battery storage system in Little Orleans, Maryland. This system will improve grid reliability for over 600 Potomac Edison customers. ELM MicroGrid was responsible for integrating the battery energy storage system.
The battery, designed and operated by Convergent, will help customers in rural areas of Allegany and Washington counties, where weather-related outages caused by trees are common. The battery will provide backup power to customers during outages, reducing their duration until crews can restore service. When fully charged, the system can support customers for about five hours. Potomac Edison can also use the battery to reserve power on days with higher outage risks due to weather conditions.
This project is part of Maryland’s Energy Storage Pilot Program, which started in 2019 to explore advanced technologies that could improve electric distribution. Potomac Edison selected Convergent through a competitive process to build and operate the system in a location where it would provide significant benefits in terms of reliability and assist with high-demand days.
Jim Myers, FirstEnergy’s President, West Virginia and Maryland, stated “This new system will help keep the lights on for hundreds of our customers and significantly reduce the impact of service interruptions in the area. Convergent has been an outstanding partner on this project, and we look forward to the meaningful reliability benefits it will provide in the future.”
Convergent Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer Frank Genova mentioned, “Convergent continues to power the clean energy transition through energy storage, which is critical to a more reliable electric grid. Potomac Edison’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.”
Jason Petermeier, ELM MigroGrid Chief Operating Officer, commented “At ELM, we are committed to empowering utilities and communities with innovative energy storage solutions that enhance grid reliability and resiliency. The successful completion of this project with Convergent Energy and Power and Potomac Edison demonstrates the transformative potential of advanced battery systems in providing dependable, sustainable power in rural areas. We are proud to play a key role in advancing non-wires alternatives that meet the growing energy needs of our partners and their customers.”
The energy storage system is considered a “non-wires alternative” (NWA), which helps avoid the need for building or upgrading expensive infrastructure. By charging the battery during low demand and discharging it during peak demand, energy storage can help utilities manage capacity more effectively. In 2015, Convergent became the first company to develop an NWA for utility infrastructure in the U.S.
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