SARATOGA SPRINGS — Key Capture Energy LLC, headquartered in Albany, plans to build a 20-megawatt (MW), utility-scale battery energy storage facility at the Luther Forest Technology Campus. The facility will be one of the largest facilities of its kind in New York and will create a more stable grid to drive economic growth.
Groundbreaking is expected this fall for the KCE (Key Capture Energy) NY 1 project, which will have no emissions, a low noise profile, and be screened byexisting vegetation and landmasses.
The project is supporting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s goal of achieving 1,500 MW of energy storage by 2025.
The project will enable the creation of 25 construction jobs and 9 full-time positions. Just as importantly, the facility will provide clean energy to enhance power grid performance and reliability, addressing the needs of advanced technology companies, including GlobalFoundries, and promoting further economic and job growth in Saratoga County.
“So the installation is going to be on a fenced gravel yard that is probably going to be about one acre,” said Key Capture Energy Chief Development Officer Dan Fitzgerald.
“The way the batteries are set up is using lithium ion technology and the cells of the batteries are put into racks, which are put into modules, which are put into the big containers. So it’s really a series of many smaller cells in racks and modules within the containers,” he added.
According to Fitzgerald the project will be completely built and operational by the end of January in 2019 and is private equity backed. Fitzgerald also noted that the installation at Luther Forest will be situated behind natural land rises and tucked away behind trees so it will not be visible to the naked eye.
Key Capture Energy is an energy storage development company focused on becoming the leading east-coast independent developer for utility-scale battery storage projects being responsive to needs of an intermittent grid. Key Capture identifies opportune locations, sites, develops, deploys and operates energy storage systems.
The KCE NY 1 facility will address a growing reality in energy generation and delivery. As more large-scale renewable energy projects come online, and intermittent resources are added totheenergymix,itisbecoming increasingly important to find ways to keep the electrical grid stable. Energy storage can play a significant role in helping to integrate renewables into the grid while maintaining grid stability, as well as providing firm energy output during periods of peak usage, which prevents system outages during extreme weather conditions.
The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership announced on July 5 that it has secured incentives to enable Key Capture Energy LLC to build the battery storage facility. The Saratoga Partnership will rebate its share of IDA fees, estimated at $33,750, to Key Capture Energy to provide additional savings to the company.
“The Saratoga Partnership is delighted to assist Key Capture Energy in developing this project, which will serve as an important economic driver for Saratoga County,” said Marty Vanags, President of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership.
“In better enabling green energy, creating direct jobs, and supporting job growth at companies in Saratoga County, this project exemplifies a long-term, sustainable approach to economic development,” Vangas said.
