Brooklyn SolarWorks installs NYC’s first residential BESS project
New York City’s Chinatown area is now host to the first battery energy storage system (BESS) project within city limits, courtesy of Brooklyn SolarWorks.
The newly installed AccESS system developed by power equipment design firm Briggs & Stratton is the only BESS model permitted for installation on the city’s rooftops. Installed as a new feature on one of the city’s solar canopies, the 19.6-kWh “system represents a monumental step forward for clean energy and urban resilience,” according to Brooklyn SolarWorks.
Sequoya Cross, VP of energy storage for Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions, says the company has spent years working with the city’s government and fire department to enable the project’s installation. Now, the system is ready to in the Big Apple.
“Our AccESS system is the only residential ESS to receive a Certificate of Approval (COA) from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY),” Cross says. “The COA is significant since New York has some of the most stringent fire safety rules for energy storage systems anywhere in the world. Since they produce very little heat and have a reduced risk of thermal runaway, our batteries don’t require additional fire suppression systems or cooling or ventilation measures.”
In order to be permitted for installation within city limits, the companies had to comply with “notoriously restrictive permitting guidelines,” representatives say, which have cut down previous BESS projects in the city.
An eight-year saga
Called “trailblazing” by Brooklyn SolarWorks officials, the system took nearly a decade to meet the rigorous electrical safety standards of New York City. Along with Briggs & Stratton, the company aimed to not just clear those hurdles, but “developing the city’s permitting framework surrounding the siting and installation of residential energy storage.”
“This installation is a testament to our commitment to bringing innovative, clean energy solutions to New York City,” says Brooklyn SolarWorks founder and CEO, T.R. Ludwig. “Our team led the charge on rooftop solar in this city a decade ago and now we have the opportunity to lay the groundwork for BESS infrastructure, which the city will need as energy demand continues to rise. We are incredibly proud to have made this groundbreaking project a reality.”
The new project is set to be a major boon to the electrical grid around New York City. As grid strain becomes a major issue in cities around the U.S., BESS and other distributed energy resources could be key to stabilizing municipal electrical systems during peak hours.
“Energy storage, when combined with solar, makes New York City’s homes more resilient and strengthens our city’s grid,” says building owner Bruce Langone. “This project has laid the groundwork for millions of families in the five boroughs to take control of their energy needs. It’s an honor to host the city’s first residential battery system, and I am grateful to Brooklyn SolarWorks and Briggs & Stratton for their persistence in bringing this vision to life.”
