Massachusetts is moving toward its goal of procuring 5,000MW of energy storage by 2030.
The state’s Department of Energy Resources (DOER) partnered with Massachusetts electric distribution companies (EDCs) to file a draft request for proposal (RFP) to the MA Department of Public Utilities for the procurement of mid-duration battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil comprise the state’s EDCs and investor-owned utilities.
The DOER established an energy storage procurement target of 200MWh in 2017 by then-Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Lt Governor Karyn Polito, secretary Matthew Beaton and commissioner Judith Judson. The current Governor, Maura Healey, signed new and expanded energy legislation in November 2024 that extended the procurement goals to 5,000MW by July 2030.
According to Energy Storage News, the act designates 3,500MW for mid-duration storage, which offers more than four hours and up to ten hours of energy storage. It also designated 750MW for long-duration energy storage, which provides anywhere from 10 to 24 hours of storage. If deemed commercially feasible at a reasonable cost, it also will designate 750MW for multi-day storage, which exceeds 24 hours.
Massachusetts is the regional leader in terms of demand growth in existing and proposed electric generating capacity, according to ISO New England.
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