For Immediate Release 

 October 20, 2017 

 

NEW YORK CITY TESTS NEW ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM 

 

AT BRONX HOSPITAL 

 

Twenty Foot (20 ft.) Battery will help NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi reduce energy costs and 

improve resiliency 

  

NEW YORK - As part of Mayor de Blasio’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 

advance the use of renewable energy, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services 

(DCAS), in conjunction with NYC Health + Hospitals and UniEnergy Technologies (UET), 

delivered a twenty foot (20) foot battery – the size of a shipping container - to the NYC Health + 

Hospitals/Jacobi campus. The battery provides 100kW of energy over a four hour period to assist 

with peak demand reduction and powering a portion of the medical center’s energy needs in the 

event of a power outage. 

  

This energy storage demonstration project is part of the City’s grid modernization efforts. It will 

help increase the resiliency of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi during events such as Hurricane 

Sandy. The modular assembly of the battery gives DCAS the option of adding additional 

batteries at a future date to increase energy storage capacity. 

  

The UET demonstration is being installed as part of a broader DCAS effort to deploy energy 

storage technologies to support demand charge reduction, peak shaving and integration with 

renewables such as solar. By charging the battery during off-peak hours, the City can reduce its 

energy costs, lower emissions and reduce its impact on the grid. 

  



“Energy storage systems are a game-changing technology that allow us to use energy smarter 

and also improve the resiliency of our facilities in the event of a power loss,” said DCAS 

Commissioner Lisette Camilo. “This demonstration at Jacobi will serve as a proof of concept to 

help us lower demand charges, reduce stress on the utility grid and understand how we can best 

scale-up the deployment of these technologies across municipal buildings.” 

  

“As a major city trauma hospital and provider of essential healthcare services in the Bronx, NYC 

Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is excited to acquire this new technology,” says CEO Chris 

Mastromano. “It will serve to greatly strengthen our hospital’s resiliency measures and level of 

preparedness by assuring a consistent response to energy demand.” 

  

“Energy storage is the linchpin technology to achieving the grid of tomorrow - one characterized 

by mostly if not entirely renewable energy,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner for Energy 

Management Anthony Fiore. “There will be a day when every household has its own energy 

storage system.” 

  

“Making large institutions energy efficient will be key to addressing issues associated with 

climate change,” said Council Member James Vacca. “I’m happy to see this energy storage 

system is being deployed at Jacobi, and I hope it proves to be a useful test case for the rest of our 

City.” 

  

State Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, said “I applaud the Mayor’s efforts to modernize and 

strengthen the City’s power grid. Jacobi is a vital part of the Bronx’s healthcare system, the new 

mobile battery will be an invaluable resource in alleviating stress on the current power grid and 

most importantly, will serve as an added layer of security in the case of an emergency or 

interruption in power.” 

  

“UET is proud to be part of DCAS’s search for innovative energy technologies,” said UET’s VP 

of Eastern Sales, John DeBoever. “UET’s advanced containerized vanadium flow battery is 

non-flammable and non-toxic, meeting the safety requirements of New York City, and 

demonstrating its value in a dense, urban environment.” 

  

Background: 

 

The UET battery has a life of at least twenty years and is environmentally safe and recyclable. It 

has been approved by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), and the Department of 

Buildings (DOB). The project is turnkey, with UET installing and commissioning the system and 

providing a one-year performance assessment. This battery storage project is part of DCAS’s 

Innovative Demonstrations for Energy Adaptability (IDEA) program, which is designed to 

advance the deployment of innovative energy technologies at municipal facilities. 

  

About DCAS 

 

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) ensures that City agencies have the critical 

resources and support needed to provide the best possible services to the public. DCAS Energy 

Management (DEM) manages the energy accounts and energy efficiency initiatives for the City of New 

York. DEM is also responsible for implementing programs and projects to support reducing greenhouse 

 



gas (GHG) emissions from municipal buildings and operations 80% by 2050, as outlined in the One City, 

Built to Last green buildings plan. 

  

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi 

 

NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College 

of Medicine. The facility holds numerous center of excellence designations for its renowned trauma 

center, burn center, regional stroke center, breast health center and bariatric surgery service. The facility 

also has a multi-person hyperbaric unit and a surgical intensive care unit. Jacobi’s Ambulatory Care 

Pavilion is a stunning complement to its recently constructed inpatient facility and allows staff to provide 

patients with high-quality care in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit 

http://www.nyc.gov/hhc/jacobi/. 

  

About UniEnergy Technologies (UET) 

 

UET produces integrated advanced vanadium flow battery storage solutions for savings, stability, and 

security in utility, independent power producer, microgrid, and commercial and industrial applications. 

Globally, only UET has megawatt-scale fully containerized flow battery systems deployed and operating 

in the field. UET now has nearly 100MW/400MWh of energy storage systems deployed, ordered or 

awarded by customers. UET’s headquarters and 60,000 square foot manufacturing facility are located in 

Mukilteo, Washington, in the Seattle metropolitan area.