Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) is requesting proposals from qualified respondents to deliver innovative non-wires alternatives (NWA) solutions that provide system reliability and load relief to the electric distribution system in the Sparkill, New York area. The Sparkill Substation is a single-bank distribution substation located on Route 340 in Orangeburg, New York, serving approximately 4,400 customers from four 13.2kV distribution circuits across the Villages of Sparkill, Piermont, Nyack, and Palisades, with a small number of customers in Rockleigh, New Jersey.
The project seeks to explore non-wires alternatives solutions to reduce loading on circuit 50-3-13 through Distributed Energy Resources (DER), including energy efficiency, demand response, solar, and energy storage. The NWA must be capable of providing a 2 MW load reduction needed to prevent the circuit from exceeding the conductor relief rating. The solution will be required to provide the specified load relief through summer 2033, at which time planned upgrades at the Sparkill Substation will improve area circuit and bank capacity. The anticipated number of days load reduction is needed is approximately 60 days per year during peak summer periods (June, July, August, September), with peak relief needed from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. (6 hours) each day. The proposed Distributed Generation (battery storage) shall be charged between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., with discharge/charge times subject to O&R discretion. The preferred location for the NWA solution is along Route 9W between Rockland Road and NYS State Line with New Jersey.
Proposals must demonstrate technical viability, environmental and community benefits, cost-effectiveness, and ability to meet implementation timelines. One 2MW/12MWhr battery storage system is anticipated to be connected to circuit 50-3-13, with the vendor responsible for sizing batteries correctly to support the specified charge/discharge schedule. The complete solution may be a portfolio of DER technologies and must operate in parallel with O&R's facilities, meeting all ANSI voltage, frequency, and system protection requirements for the 13.2kV (Grd-Y) distribution system. Respondents must provide financial assurances and measurement and verification plans to confirm delivered demand reductions.
Key dates include: RFP issuance on October 23, 2024; pre-bid conference call on November 7, 2024 at 1 p.m. ET; deadline for clarification questions on November 22, 2024; deadline to become enabled in the procurement system on December 6, 2024; responses to clarification questions due December 6, 2024; and proposal submission deadline on January 15, 2025.