Plug Power Inc., a provider of turnkey hydrogen solutions for the global green hydrogen economy, announced it will discuss the new partnership including software collaboration with Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. at its analyst day in Rochester on June 14th.
Energy Vault has designed and will integrate for the city of Calistoga, a hybrid microgrid system that includes an 8 MW (megawatts) hydrogen fuel cell stationary power for the first of its kind hybrid microgrid (battery plus green hydrogen) that will be used during times of wildfires and other emergencies. This will be the largest planned hydrogen powered fuel cell installation in the United States.
Turnkey hydrogen solutions
The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) requires that state utility grid operators shut off power during severe weather to help prevent wildfires. Energy Vault designed a carbon free solution combining a small portion of short duration batteries to support black start and grid forming requirements with green hydrogen-fed fuel cells for 48 hour+ storage duration to eliminate the need for PG&E to rent mobile diesel generators to provide backup power in Calistoga during these Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events.
The power from the new microgrid will be dispatched and optimized by Vault-OS
For the ultra-long duration need and multi-day discharge, Energy Vault chose Plug’s PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells as it can offer cleaner, more operationally flexible, and more cost-effective power to the microgrid. The power from the new microgrid will be dispatched and optimized by Vault-OS, the technology neutral energy management digital platform developed by Energy Vault.
Energy storage system
“Our agreement with Energy Vault marks a huge step forward for hydrogen fuel cells in the microgrid market and represents the future of utility power back-up,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug.
“Green hydrogen is uniquely positioned to solve the need for clean long-duration energy storage in at-risk communities like Calistoga that are susceptible to power interruptions. Energy Vault’s unique energy storage integration platform, for short, long, and multi-day duration, has facilitated the adoption of our hydrogen powered fuel cells and minimized the overall cost of the microgrid, making possible the final approval by the CPUC. We are excited to begin deeper collaboration with Energy Vault with this first and largest utility scale energy storage system using green hydrogen and fuel cells while leveraging their Vault-OS digital platform to optimize the dispatch economics of our fuel cells for our customers.”
Carbon free solutions
Plug’s fuel cell technology will serve as the microgrid’s stationary backup power generator
“We are excited to partner with Plug Power, leader in the hydrogen fuel cell industry, in the deployment of carbon free solutions that have been accelerated in market adoption and deployment through our digital integration platform,” said Marco Terruzzin, Chief Commercial and Product Officer of Energy Vault. “Working closely with the city of Calistoga stakeholders, PG&E and Plug Power we are delivering a ‘best fit-least cost’ solution for the growing Public Safety Power Shutoff problem.”
Energy Vault previously announced it is building a community microgrid for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to provide Calistoga with a minimum of 293 megawatt-hours (MWh) of dispatchable carbon-free energy during planned outages and PSPS events. The microgrid will integrate a short duration battery system with a long duration storage system of fuel cells and green liquid hydrogen. Plug’s fuel cell technology will serve as the microgrid’s stationary backup power generator.
Backup power generator
The energy storage system will be owned, operated, and maintained by Energy Vault while providing dispatchable power under a long-term tolling agreement with PG&E. Plug will deliver 8 MW of fuel cell power, made up of 40-foot ISO containers.
The fuel cells will be manufactured in the US, primarily at Plug’s gigafactory in Rochester, New York, and assembled and tested at Vista Technology Park, Plug’s world-class fuel cell manufacturing facility in Slingerlands, New York. This production approach will allow Energy Vault to take advantage of the additional 10% ITC available under the IRA for American-made content. Construction of the energy storage system in Calistoga is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2023 with commercial operation expected by the second quarter of 2024.
