When a business in Framingham, Massachusetts, experienced an outage after a December 2023 storm, crews assessed the damage and determined that a prolonged repair was needed, so they requested a generator to keep the business up and running.

As part of the pilot program, we have two mobile batteries that we are strategically deploying across our Massachusetts service territory, including in environmental justice communities. These provide power to customers while crews make upgrades or repairs to the electric system that would otherwise require a power outage.

We are also charging one of the batteries using a solar array at our Springfield Area Work Center, further enhancing the clean energy applications of the technology.

“The mobile batteries are passing our tests with flying colors, and we are excited about the many benefits it will provide to our customers as a quiet, carbon-free solution to ensure reliable service while we conduct critical work on the system,” said Eversource Director of Distribution Engineering Umair Zia. “We’ve field-tested the MBESS, bringing it to a site where we’d previously used diesel power generators for back-up power, and the mobile battery provided power for 18 hours at a time, quietly, with no emissions. It can also be recharged using our solar panels at our area work centers, making this a truly sustainable solution to enhance service for our customers.”

Mobile batteries produce no exhaust fumes and unlike diesel generators, the MBESS operates virtually silently. Also, by eliminating noise, batteries can facilitate clearer communication between workers on construction job sites or disaster relief efforts. The MBESS can also be swapped out for recharging and save money previously spent on diesel fuel to power generators.

One new 500 kilowatt-hour mobile battery can, for example, charge a 50-home neighborhood for four hours. The current plan is to have two mobile batteries at the Springfield Area Work Center for deployment.