Yisroel R.

A major new battery energy storage facility is set to be built in Bushwick, just outside Williamsburg, as part of an effort to strengthen the electrical grid across North Brooklyn and help prevent blackouts during periods of high electricity use.

Battery company NineDot is expected to break ground later this year on the 4.9-megawatt facility at 421 Bushwick Avenue, across from the Bushwick Houses. The facility is expected to begin operating in 2027 and will be capable of storing enough electricity to power approximately 5,000 nearby homes when demand on the electrical grid is at its highest.

The facility will store electricity during overnight hours, when demand is lower, and send that electricity back into the grid when it is needed most. During the summer, the Bushwick facility is expected to operate for several hours each afternoon, when air conditioners and other electrical equipment place significant pressure on the city’s power system.

North Brooklyn has experienced blackouts and reductions in electrical voltage during periods of extreme summer heat, when the grid struggles to keep up with demand. Supporters of the project say adding stored electricity during those critical hours could help prevent outages, which can create particular difficulties in large residential buildings where elevators and other essential equipment depend on electricity.

The project is also part of New York’s broader push toward battery storage as the state moves toward cleaner sources of energy. New York is aiming to have 6,000 megawatts of energy storage operating statewide by 2030, including approximately 1,000 megawatts in New York City. The storage facilities are also intended to reduce the need for high-polluting power plants that are switched on when electricity demand reaches its highest levels.

Battery storage facilities have faced opposition over concerns about fire safety. However, supporters of the Bushwick project said there has been broad support locally following outreach to nearby residents, including those living at Bushwick Houses. Battery facilities built in the city are required to meet safety requirements overseen by the Department of Buildings and FDNY.

photo: NineDot