Key Highlights:
- A recent agreement has been made between Rocky Mountain Power, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, and Utah’s Torus. This partnership aims to add 70 MW of commercial and industrial demand response capabilities to the Wattsmart Battery program within the next 12 to 18 months, according to an announcement made by Torus on February 7.
- Torus has already secured approximately one-third of the project’s expected capacity and is currently in the process of obtaining the necessary permits and approvals for deployment, as stated by Torus founder and CEO Nate Walkingshaw.
- Governor Spencer Cox of Utah praised this partnership, highlighting it as a significant step as the state aims to double its power production capacity over the next decade while continuing to be a net energy exporter.
Program Insights:
The Wattsmart Battery program is recognized as one of the leading virtual power plants in the U.S., integrating seamlessly into the utility’s operations and providing a variety of grid services for battery aggregation, as noted by the Department of Energy.
In 2024, the program has already facilitated over 130 response events, primarily to manage energy demand during peak hours in the late afternoon and evening. While several other energy management providers are engaged in its residential aspects, Torus is the sole company catering to commercial and industrial clients.
According to the memorandum of understanding, Torus will install its hybrid flywheel battery energy storage systems at various commercial and industrial locations throughout the Wattsmart program’s expanded regions, which now includes parts of Wyoming and Idaho in addition to Utah.
These storage systems allow immediate reductions in utility demand charges for customers, while enabling Rocky Mountain Power to draw on the stored energy during demand response events, which occur only a small fraction of the year.
Walkingshaw emphasized the mutual benefits, stating, “Wattsmart lets them have their cake and eat it too.”
Within the battery system, the Nova Spin flywheel offers rapid, short-term power output, enhancing power quality and supporting onsite generation, particularly during outages or emergencies. The Nova Pulse lithium-iron-phosphate battery serves as backup power during unexpected interruptions and supports the grid during high-demand periods.
Nova Pulse batteries come in sizes ranging from 270 kWh to 2.2 MWh and can be expanded to 40 MWh. The hybrid system’s unique design allows it to last longer than conventional chemical batteries by effectively managing demand surges, reducing strain on the battery components.
The system is designed with secure hardware and software developed in the United States, featuring 24/7 cybersecurity monitoring to protect against potential threats. Walkingshaw underlined the importance of robust cybersecurity measures as distributed energy resources become more common.
“We are urging utilities to implement a modern security framework that can safeguard against sophisticated cyber threats,” he stated.