Project Details
Harnessing Clean Energy for Peak Efficiency
Winner of the 2019 EBCNE prestigious Ira W. Leighton Award for Outstanding Innovative Technology award.
The battery storage system was designed to provide peak shaving and VAR support for the municipal-owned power company, Holyoke Gas & Electric Department. This clean energy project boasts a 2 MW / 4 MWH battery storage system adjacent to the acclaimed 5.78 MW Mount Tom Solar Array.
As the prime contractor, Fischbach & Moore was responsible for a multitude of components:
- Installation of temporary and permanent roadways, fire service water lines and hydrants, concrete foundations, structural steel equipment platforms, and electrical work
- Overcame challenges posed by the project’s location within the 200-year floodplain adjacent to the Connecticut River, the team ingeniously elevated the battery containers and electrical equipment on a structural steel platform eight feet above grade
- Space and cost restrictions led us to value engineer the MV export transformers to include an internal vacuum interrupter switch, saving valuable space and lowering the foundation and structural steel costs
- In response to concerns stemming from recent battery storage incidents, extensive safety measures were implemented, including a 1,300-foot-long fire water service and hydrant, as well as enhanced early detection, notification, and emergency lighting systems, prioritizing firefighter safety
With a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and safety, the Mount Tom Battery Storage project exemplifies the transformative potential of clean energy initiatives.
