New York City kitchens may soon be cutting electricity costs with a combination of plug-in batteries and software, avoiding the long wait times tied to utility sign-offs for larger commercial storage systems.
What's happening?
At 21 locations in New York City, energy supplier David Energy and food technology platform Wonder are rolling out 120-volt battery systems built from consumer-grade equipment, according to reporting from PV Magazine.
The goal is to help kitchens reduce their energy bills by 3%-5% while also making it easier to bypass utility queues. According to PV Magazine, the batteries will store electricity when rates are low and draw on that stored energy once prices climb.
The hardware being used in these setups is the EcoFlow STREAM Ultra, which uses lithium iron phosphate cells and is rated at 800 watts alongside 1.92 kilowatt-hours of storage per base unit. These batteries plug into standard 120-volt AC lines in breaker rooms and operate entirely behind the meter, so they do not send power back onto the grid, per PV Magazine.
The project therefore skips Con Edison's normal interconnection process. That lets David Energy move much faster across multiple sites instead of waiting through lengthy studies and approvals.
Why does it matter?
For businesses, cutting even a few percentage points from electricity bills can add up quickly, especially in energy-intensive spaces such as commercial kitchens, laundries, neighborhood grocers, corner stores, and retail outlets.
It also means businesses can spend less time stuck in utility approval lines before systems go live.
Additionally, the plan can help reduce dependence on fossil-fuel peaker plants, which are often both costly and highly polluting.
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The use of battery backups remains one of the best ways to keep essential appliances running during blackouts, lower utility costs by storing cheaper power, and build resilience when extreme weather threatens the grid.
If you're interested in getting a battery backup for your home, check out EnergySage and its free tools. EnergySage has teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
And for shoppers looking for a smaller, more affordable backup option, Pila offers plug-and-play batteries priced at a fraction of the cost of a whole-home backup system.
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