The New York state solar energy market, already one of the top ten for installed capacity nationwide, is welcoming another new round of community-sized solar and energy project hybrid projects.
CVE North America has started construction of a solar and battery storage combination development at its Riverhead project in Long Island. Riverhead is situated atop a capped landfill in the Suffolk County community and is going to total 7 MW in solar capacity along with the 13.6-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
Altogether, the hybrid system is expected to generate an estimated 12,000 MWh (12 GWh) of carbon-free electricity annually, enough to power approximately 1,500 homes.
"The Riverhead project is a pivotal step in expanding our energy storage capabilities and demonstrates how strategic solar development can strengthen local energy systems," said Ben Dereume, technical director at CVE North America, in a statement.
The BESS will allow excess solar energy to be stored during off-peak hours and released when demand is highest, enhancing grid performance and ensuring a more reliable local power supply, extending the benefits of clean energy to the local community.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranks New York state 9th for total installed capacity, which accounts for nearly 6% of the total electricity resource mix. California, Texas, Florida, Arizona and North Carolina are the top five states for solar capacity as of 2024, according to the SEIA.
CVE is not new to pure play solar projects New York and has delivered on 90 MW in operational projects across the northeast U.S. Most of its projects are small or community solar arrays built in Massachusetts.
