Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and Lightshift Energy Complete 4 MW Battery Storage Project in Virginia
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) and Lightshift Energy have announced the completion of a new battery energy storage system designed to help improve electricity reliability, manage peak demand and control power costs for cooperative members in Nelson County, Virginia.
The project, known as Colleen VA BESS 1, was officially celebrated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at CVEC’s Colleen Substation in Arrington. The event brought together representatives from both organizations, employees, board members, community leaders and project partners to mark the completion of the battery installation and highlight its expected benefits for the local electricity network.
The newly completed battery energy storage system has a capacity of 4 megawatts (MW) and 20 megawatt-hours (MWh). It is designed to store electricity when demand across the grid is relatively low and discharge that stored energy during periods of high electricity consumption. By shifting electricity usage away from peak-demand hours, the system will help CVEC manage its electricity requirements more efficiently and reduce costs associated with maintaining adequate power capacity.
Colleen VA BESS 1 represents an important part of Lightshift Energy’s expanding collaboration with Virginia’s cooperative and public power organizations. The project is one of three battery storage installations that Lightshift is developing with CVEC. It is also among five projects included in the company’s broader partnership with the Blue Ridge Power Agency (BRPA).
The partnership focuses on introducing battery energy storage technology to electric cooperatives and public power communities across Virginia. These installations are intended to provide practical solutions for managing electricity demand, improving grid operations and addressing the increasing costs associated with power transmission and capacity.
Mike Herbert, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lightshift Energy, highlighted the importance of battery storage for rural electric cooperatives facing rising electricity infrastructure expenses.
According to Herbert, rural cooperatives are increasingly exposed to higher capacity and transmission costs, making energy storage an important tool for managing these financial pressures. He said battery systems provide utilities with an opportunity to reduce peak demand and improve the efficiency of their electricity networks.
Herbert also emphasized Lightshift’s role in the project, explaining that the company is proud to own and operate the battery installation for CVEC through its partnership with the Blue Ridge Power Agency.
The Colleen battery system operates by charging during periods when electricity demand is lower and releasing stored electricity when demand reaches its highest levels. Electricity costs can increase significantly during peak-demand periods because utilities must secure sufficient generation and transmission capacity to meet consumption requirements.
By supplying stored electricity during these critical hours, the system can reduce CVEC’s peak demand. Lower peak demand can help limit transmission and capacity charges, which are important components of electricity costs ultimately affecting cooperative members.
The installation also demonstrates how battery storage can be integrated into existing electricity infrastructure without requiring substantial additional land or major network development. Colleen VA BESS 1 is located at an existing CVEC substation, allowing the project to use established grid connections.
Using the existing substation infrastructure helps avoid additional land disturbance and can defer expensive electrical system upgrades. The battery installation occupies less than one-tenth of an acre, demonstrating the potential for compact energy storage facilities to deliver meaningful benefits to distribution networks.
Gary Wood, President and CEO of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, said the organization continuously evaluates innovative technologies and solutions that can provide value to its members while supporting the efficient operation of its electricity system.
Wood explained that the collaboration with Lightshift Energy and the Blue Ridge Power Agency will help CVEC manage peak electricity demand, control costs and strengthen service reliability. He also highlighted the importance of making efficient use of existing infrastructure when implementing new energy technologies.
The project introduces another significant technical development for Lightshift Energy’s battery storage portfolio. Colleen VA BESS 1, together with the company’s Piney River project, also developed for CVEC, represents the first Lightshift battery installations designed to directly and automatically manage electrical loads at utility substations.
Both installations incorporate technology that continuously monitors electricity demand at the associated CVEC substations in real time. Based on changing load conditions, the battery systems automatically adjust their charging and discharging operations to keep substation loads within established operating limits.
This automated substation load management capability allows the battery installations to respond to electricity demand as it changes throughout the day. By coordinating battery output with actual substation conditions, CVEC and Lightshift can maximize the capacity and operational benefits of the energy storage systems while maintaining reliable electricity network operations.
The technology also provides greater flexibility for distribution-connected battery storage projects. Rather than operating solely according to fixed charging and discharging schedules, the systems can respond dynamically to the operating requirements of the local electricity network.
Managing substation loads is particularly important for electric cooperatives seeking to accommodate changing electricity consumption patterns without immediately investing in costly infrastructure expansion. Battery storage can provide additional flexibility by supporting existing electrical equipment during periods of elevated demand.
Lightshift Energy plans to extend automated substation load management capabilities to additional locations across its expanding portfolio of distribution-connected battery storage projects. The company’s work with CVEC provides an operational example of how energy storage technology can be integrated directly into utility distribution systems.
The five-project collaboration involving Lightshift and the Blue Ridge Power Agency also reflects broader efforts to introduce battery storage solutions across Virginia’s cooperative and public power sectors. These projects are intended to help participating utilities respond to changing electricity demand and manage the financial challenges associated with grid infrastructure.
For CVEC, the completion of Colleen VA BESS 1 adds a new resource to its electricity distribution network. The installation combines battery storage, automated load monitoring and existing substation infrastructure to support more efficient electricity management.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of the project and provided an opportunity for participating organizations and community representatives to learn about the system’s operation and its expected contribution to local electricity services.
Through continued collaboration, CVEC, Lightshift Energy and the Blue Ridge Power Agency are demonstrating how strategically located battery energy storage systems can support electric cooperatives, improve demand management and help control electricity costs while maintaining reliable service for communities across Virginia.
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