Dive Brief:
- Stem Inc. will deploy a 2.5 MWh battery system for INOAC Interior Systems in Ontario, helping the automotive supplier to reduce its peak demand and resulting Global Adjustment charges. Based in Japan, INOAC is a large, privately-held manufacturing with more than 100 facilities in 20 countries.
- The storage installations specifically designed for Ontario's system rely on artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and high speed data feeds to reduce customer charges.
- All electric customers in Ontario pay the GA fee; for commercial and industrial customers with large loads, a significant portion of the fee is determined by their share of peak usage, which is what the project seeks to reduce.
Dive Insight:
Stem 's GA offering is aimed specifically at the Ontario market, where the company says energy prices are on the rise despite declining kWh costs. The storage company says that 1 MW of energy consumption during Ontario’s five high peaks costs over $500,000, and could go higher.
INOAC President Roger Dawes said STEM's platform gives the company "an automated way to reduce energy costs with no interference in our operations.”
Stem says its offering is ideal for large manufacturing operations, and uses a combination of building data, weather services and predictive analysis within wholesale markets to anticipate peak hours.
The California-based company has been working to expand its reach internationally. Last year, Stem and Sunverge Energy inked energy storage deals in Japan, working with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. on behind-the-meter aggregation in the service territory of Tokyo Electric Power Co.
About a year ago, Stem announced it was expanding into the New York energy storage market, and was in talks with about two dozen companies on installations that could total as much as 14 MWh across 80 locations.
