Technical Brief: Rocky Mountain Power & Torus Partner on Grid-Scale Energy Storage
In a significant step toward modernizing energy infrastructure, Rocky Mountain Power and Torus have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to integrate Torus’s advanced energy storage solutions into Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Battery program. This partnership aims to deploy a 70-megawatt demand response initiative capable of powering approximately 20,000 homes, significantly enhancing grid reliability and supporting Utah’s Operation Gigawatt initiative to double the state’s power production over the next decade.
Advanced Technology Integration
The implementation of Torus’s Nova Spin and Nova Pulse technologies into the Wattsmart program will provide substantial improvements in grid stability and energy efficiency. These cutting-edge technologies offer:
- Sub-250 millisecond response time with 99% system uptime, ensuring rapid demand response capabilities.
- Real-time frequency regulation, maintaining a stable 60 Hz power supply.
- Voltage support for both 208V and 480V three-phase power, improving grid flexibility.
- Enhanced performance with Nova Spin’s C-rating 10 times higher than traditional chemical batteries.
- Extended lifespan, potentially doubling the operational longevity of conventional battery systems.
- Completion timeline of 12-18 months, ensuring a swift deployment of the new infrastructure.
With these features, the Torus energy storage solution is expected to enhance both the bulk system-level efficiency and the distribution system’s reliability, delivering value to both Rocky Mountain Power’s grid and its customers.
Strategic Importance and Economic Growth
The project aligns with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Liftoff Report, which recognizes Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Battery program as a premier example of a battery-based virtual power plant. The initiative supports national goals to deploy 80-160 GW of VPPs by 2030, driving sustainable energy adoption across the country.
“Enhancing and expanding the Rocky Mountain Power system is the key to meeting Utah’s energy future,” said Dick Garlish, President of Rocky Mountain Power. “Collaborating with innovative leaders in technology and energy, like Torus, is essential to meet the goals of Operation Gigawatt.”
“This technical implementation demonstrates how our relationship with Rocky Mountain Power will deliver both grid resilience and energy security,” added Nate Walkingshaw, CEO of Torus. “As highlighted in the DOE VPP Liftoff Report, demand response programs are crucial for managing grid challenges while reducing costs.”
Impact on Data Centers and Industrial Facilities
With Utah emerging as a hub for data centers and large-scale industrial operations, Torus’s technology integration will provide numerous benefits to these energy-intensive sectors, including:
- Power quality management via Nova Sync frequency conditioning, ensuring stable operations for mission-critical applications.
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) functionality with sub-250ms failover, minimizing downtime risks.
- Long-duration backup power utilizing hybrid flywheel-chemical storage systems for sustained energy supply.
- On-site generation integration, enabling seamless dispatching of stored power during peak demand periods.
- Real-time performance monitoring, leveraging advanced analytics to track millions of data points and optimize system efficiency.
- Predictive maintenance, utilizing AI-driven diagnostics to preemptively address potential failures and maximize system reliability.
Grid Security and Infrastructure Management
As utilities transition toward more decentralized and digitally connected energy systems, security remains a top priority. Torus’s grid-scale energy storage solutions incorporate multiple security layers to protect critical infrastructure, including:
- Nova Shield hardware security, safeguarding critical command transmissions against potential cyber threats.
- 24/7 cybersecurity monitoring and threat detection, ensuring real-time responses to emerging risks.
- Secure firmware development, designed and maintained in U.S.-based facilities to uphold national cybersecurity standards.
- Utility management system integration, leveraging secure APIs for seamless interoperability with existing Rocky Mountain Power infrastructure.
- SCADA system integration, enabling precise control and automation of energy dispatching.
Commitment to American Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence
Torus has made substantial investments in domestic manufacturing to ensure the quality, reliability, and security of its energy storage systems. Key highlights of its manufacturing and engineering capabilities include:
- Over 50,000 square feet of dedicated production space, supporting end-to-end Nova Spin production and Nova Pulse assembly.
- A highly experienced engineering team, bringing decades of expertise in power electronics, grid-scale storage, and energy system optimization.
- Complete control over the supply chain and production processes, minimizing reliance on foreign components and reducing lead times.
By prioritizing American innovation, Torus is contributing to both national energy independence and industrial competitiveness, reinforcing its position as a leader in grid-scale energy storage solutions.
