BUCKLAND — The Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee has signed a letter of intent to pursue construction of a battery energy storage system at the middle and high school.
The letter, unanimously approved by committee members last week, states the district and Solect Energy, which constructs battery energy systems, will enter into negotiations to determine the specifics of what leasing space at Mohawk Trail Regional School on Ashfield Road for the installation of a battery energy storage system would look like and how revenue from the system would be split.
Representatives from Solect Energy said they will apply for a grant from the state Department of Energy Resources’ Advancing Massachusetts Power program, which could cover 75% to 90% of installation costs. Solect Energy will cover the rest of the installation costs. The battery energy storage system will be built in a 20-foot-by-10-foot area that is at least 10 feet away from the school building.
Andrew Hickok, senior director of energy markets at Solect Energy, said that, in addition to providing revenue for the school district, the system could be used as a backup to provide electricity to the school during a power outage.
“You have a great existing PV [photovoltaic] array; the PV array is only a grid-tied system, which delivers bill savings. When the grid goes down currently, it cannot deliver any power to the school,” Hickok said. “So we’d be putting in the battery with a battery inverter. That inverter has the ability to tie into the backup loads panel in the school or potentially back up the entire facility beyond what the existing generator is capable of doing.”
He said revenue from the system could be used to offset the school’s electric costs, potentially providing $26,215 in savings in its first year and a total of $345,617 in savings over 10 years.
School Committee members asked if there are any fire or safety concerns with having a battery energy storage system on the property. Hickok said the system would involve the latest technology, meeting standards and regulations set by the state, and an emergency response and fire suppression plan would be developed.
The committee agreed to sign the letter of intent and support the grant application.
“If we are accepted into the grant program, then there would be another contract with Solect to actually install, maintain and operate this battery,” School Committee Chair Martha Thurber said. “This is step one and it only goes forward if we get the grant.”