U.S. Kearsarge to Deploy 70MWh Energy Storage in 2026

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Kearsarge Energy plans to implement four new battery energy storage system (BESS) projects totaling 70 megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2026, with an additional 200MWh expected to be constructed in 2027. Since commissioning the first distributed photovoltaic + storage (DG PV+BESS) system in National Grid's service territory in Amesbury, Massachusetts in 2019, the company has been engaged in the development and operation of battery energy storage projects in the northeastern United States.

Over the past seven years, through the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing policy volatility, Kearsarge has leveraged innovative financing, safety protocols and standards development, and BESS technology and component integration to achieve high performance and high value across multiple incentive programs and the New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE) wholesale markets, promoting the adoption of battery storage by utilities, technology partners, and municipal stakeholders. The company's project portfolio includes standalone storage and PV+storage, and is advanced through public-private partnerships with municipal owners and private institutions. The 2026 portfolio includes PV+storage facilities on landfill sites and standalone BESS installations, with partners spanning municipal, nonprofit, and quasi-public entities.

The 3.8MWh standalone storage project in Amesbury, Massachusetts was completed in 2019. Built on the city's Titcomb Pit landfill, the project was the first PV+storage facility constructed under the Massachusetts SMART solar program within National Grid's service territory, comprising a 4.5MW DC ballasted PV array and a 3.8MWh BESS. The 5.1MWh standalone storage project in Montague was completed in 2021. Kearsarge assisted in closing the town's incinerator landfill, and the PV+storage system was built on the site, comprising a 3.0MW DC solar facility and a 5.1MWh BESS. The 9.0MWh standalone storage project in Haverhill was completed in 2021, with the facility located on the City of Haverhill's landfill and interconnected to the local National Grid distribution network. The project was approved on a former Superfund site in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), comprising a 3.6MW DC solar facility and a 9.0MWh AC-coupled BESS. The William Way project in the Town of Bellingham, with a capacity of 9.55MWh, was completed in 2021, providing more than 66 million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually to public entity off-takers within National Grid's service territory, including a 6.3MW DC solar facility and a 9.6MWh AC-coupled BESS.

Three projects in Beverly, Kingston, and Franklin were completed in 2022. The Beverly project, at 6.8MWh, was developed in partnership with the City of Beverly across multiple municipally owned parcels for six solar projects totaling more than 4MW of installed capacity; the project included the removal of the original solar array at Beverly High School, replacement with next-generation modules and racking at increased capacity, as well as the installation of a carport facility and a 6.8MWh AC-coupled BESS. The Kingston project, with a capacity of 4.45MWh, is located on the Town of Kingston's landfill, interconnected to the Eversource distribution network, comprising a 2.7MW DC ballasted ground-mounted solar facility and a 4.5MWh DC-coupled BESS installed after the removal of a decommissioned wind turbine. The Franklin project, with a capacity of 3.88MWh, is located on underutilized town land, interconnected to the local National Grid distribution network, comprising a 1.5MW DC solar array and a 3.9MWh DC-coupled BESS.

Three projects in Reading, Orleans, and Sterling were completed in 2025. The Reading project, at 22.4MWh, was developed by Kearsarge in partnership with the Reading Municipal Light Department to shave local peak demand during critical events and help reduce ISO-NE peaks. The Orleans project, at 20MWh, was built in partnership with the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority and the local electric departments of Orleans and Barton to shave local peak demand for municipal electric departments during critical grid events; a nearby 7.5MW solar array provides more than 8.7 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and renewable energy credits annually, meeting Vermont requirements. The Sterling project, at 20MWh, provides local in-territory energy and supports peak load management for the Sterling Municipal Light Department; a ground-mounted solar array built on underutilized private land generates more than 2.2 million kilowatt-hours annually, and the 20MWh BESS offsets peak energy demand, saving energy costs for the local electric department.

Four projects in Concord, Middleborough, Chicopee, and Walpole are in the construction or advancement phase. The Concord project is a 20MWh PV+storage system located at the Town of Concord's Walden Street landfill, which will provide local in-territory energy and peak shaving for the Concord Municipal Light Plant, with a 20MWh BESS paired with a 4.6MW DC ballasted solar array to increase solar generation. The Middleborough project, at 20MWh, will shave local peak demand during critical grid events for the municipal electric department Middleboro Gas and Electric, with estimated savings of approximately $12 million to $15 million over 20 years. The Chicopee project, at 20MWh, continues a public-private partnership with Chicopee Electric Light that began in 2012, used to shave local peak demand during critical grid events. The Walpole project, at 10MWh, is located on land owned by Norfolk County, interconnected to the Eversource distribution network, comprising approximately 6.9MW DC ballasted ground-mounted solar facilities and a 10MWh AC-coupled BESS, representing another addition to the company's portfolio under the Massachusetts SMART program.

Kearsarge owns and operates its entire energy portfolio, collaborating with local stakeholders, electric authorities, electric cooperatives, municipal electric departments, and other partners nationwide to optimize project development and operational performance. As one of the largest independent power producers in the Northeast, the company will commission four BESS projects in Massachusetts in 2026, advancing energy storage development and driving best practices for these assets in safe and efficient market operations. Andrew Bernstein, Managing Partner of Kearsarge Solar, stated that leading safe and efficient energy storage applications over the past seven years has been gratifying; through partnerships with municipalities and local utilities, the company has helped these organizations think about how to sustainably leverage battery storage opportunities to meet growing community energy needs and advance the affordability of urgently needed new generation sources.