The recognition highlights how a 3.75 MWh battery storage system at Peace Bridge Place is helping affordable housing support the power grid while creating opportunities to reduce energy costs
BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Viridi, Good Carbon Co. and National Grid have been recognized as 2026 Fortnightly Top Innovator of the Year for their collaboration on a demand flexibility project at Peace Bridge Place, a 105-unit affordable housing development in Buffalo, New York. The project combines Viridi’s 3.75 MWh indoor battery energy storage system with intelligent energy management technology to help reduce peak electricity demand and enable the property to actively support the power grid.
The 2026 Fortnightly Top Innovators Awards, held October 29 in Washington, D.C., where the Peace Bridge Place project by Viridi, Good Carbon Co. and National Grid was named Top Innovator of the Year. Photo credit: Chris Dorr Photography
The Peace Bridge Place project also received the Lise Meitner Award for Clean Baseload, Gas Generation & Load Shaping at the 2026 Fortnightly Top Innovators Awards. Presented by Public Utilities Fortnightly (PUF) and powered by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), the awards were held October 29 in Washington, D.C., where attendees selected the project as the overall Top Innovator of the Year through a live vote among five category winners.
The project is part of a National Grid pilot, stewarded by NYSERDA, exploring how flexible energy technologies can support the utility’s distribution network as electricity demand grows. At Peace Bridge Place, Viridi’s 3.75 MWh RPSLinkIN indoor battery energy storage system incorporates proprietary fail-safe technology designed to prevent thermal runaway propagation. During peak events, National Grid dispatch signals are delivered through EnergyHub‘s platform to Viridi’s energy management system, which then coordinates the response across the building’s battery and other energy systems.
Designed for safe installation in occupied buildings, Viridi’s RPSLinkIN system features proprietary Fail-Safe Anti-Propagation technology designed to prevent thermal runaway from spreading between battery cells. During UL 9540A testing, the technology demonstrated no cell-to-cell propagation and no detectable release of heat, sparks, smoke, gas or flames. The system has also earned UL 9540 certification from TÜV Rheinland, providing third-party certification of the complete energy storage system.
During demand-response events, the system can reduce the building’s net electricity consumption below zero, allowing the property to temporarily supply energy to the local distribution network during times when available capacity is constrained. This approach creates opportunities for utilities to better manage electricity demand while helping building owners reduce operating costs.
“This award recognizes a fundamental shift in how we think about energy infrastructure and the role buildings can play in supporting the grid,” said Jon M. Williams, CEO of Viridi. “At Peace Bridge Place, we’ve demonstrated that large-scale battery storage can be safely integrated into an occupied residential building, helping reduce peak demand and deliver value beyond the property itself. The opportunity now is to bring this model to buildings across the country, turning existing infrastructure into a resource for a more reliable, flexible energy system.”
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is providing support to Good Carbon Co. for the Peace Bridge Place project through its Future Grid Challenge. The installation is part of Good Carbon’s broader clean energy strategy for Peace Bridge Place, which includes geothermal heating and cooling, domestic hot water improvements and building envelope upgrades. Together, these technologies support a fully electrified, energy-efficient building while creating opportunities to lower operating expenses, generate revenue through utility demand-response programs and support long-term housing affordability.
“Affordable housing shouldn’t have to choose between affordability, sustainability and innovation,” said Adam Serbert, CEO of Good Carbon Co. “At Peace Bridge Place, we’re showing how energy storage and intelligent energy management can help lower operating costs while turning a residential property into an active resource for the grid. This recognition is an important milestone, but the bigger opportunity is bringing this approach to affordable housing communities across the country.”
For National Grid, supporting the project with an upfront incentive in exchange for guaranteed dispatch rights demonstrates how collaboration with building owners and technology providers can help address rising electricity demand without relying solely on traditional infrastructure upgrades. By incorporating flexible energy resources into its distribution network, the utility is exploring new ways to manage peak demand while maintaining reliable, affordable service for customers.
“As electricity demand grows, we need innovative ways to make the most of existing grid infrastructure while keeping service reliable and affordable for customers,” said Sabina Zafar, VP of Connections & Strategic Accounts, National
Source: finance.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.
