Millbrae, Calif: Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy storage service provider Stem, Inc., announced June 23 the launch of its first solar+storage independent power producer (IPP) site. The project is part of its partnership with Syncarpha Capital, LLC, a investment company that develops, owns and operates distributed photovoltaic (PV) solar and energy storage systems across North America.
The Blandford, Mass., site, northwest of Springfield, is the first 8 MWh of a 28 MWh portfolio of large-scale solar plus storage projects that Stem is operating for Syncarpha throughout Massachusetts. Over the next year, Stem and Syncarpha will deploy four additional Massachusetts projects in Halifax, Leicester, Millbury and Westminster.
Within these projects, Stem’s Athena™ AI platform will power one DC-coupled and four AC-coupled front-of-the-meter (FTM) solar+storage projects, including the Blandford site. Athena delivers the intelligence that enables the projects to participate in wholesale markets managed by the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE). In addition, Athena will support compliance with requirements for federal investment tax credits and the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program, a state initiative that promotes cost-effective solar development with customer-facing and grid service benefits.
The Blandford site is now leveraging Athena to automate operations, generating nearly 5 MW of solar during the day. Athena then charges and discharges the Stem storage system to shift energy to the desired evening hours, maximizing energy arbitrage by discharging into the peak.