Viridi, Good Carbon and National Grid Named 2026 Fortnightly Top Innovator of the Year for Breakthrough Building-to-Grid Project

Posted on November 5th, 2026 | Filed under Press Releases

The recognition highlights how a 3.75 MWh battery storage system at Peace Bridge Place is helping affordable housing support the power grid while creating opportunities to reduce energy costs

BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Viridi, Good Carbon Co. and National Grid have been recognized as 2026 Fortnightly Top Innovator of the Year for their collaboration on a demand flexibility project at Peace Bridge Place, a 105-unit affordable housing development in Buffalo, New York. The project combines Viridi’s 3.75 MWh indoor battery energy storage system with intelligent energy management technology to help reduce peak electricity demand and enable the property to actively support the power grid.

The 2026 Fortnightly Top Innovators Awards, held October 29 in Washington, D.C., where the Peace Bridge Place project by Viridi, Good Carbon Co. and National Grid was named Top Innovator of the Year. Photo credit: Chris Dorr Photography

The Peace Bridge Place project also received the Lise Meitner Award for Clean Baseload, Gas Generation & Load Shaping at the 2026 Fortnightly Top Innovators Awards. Presented by Public Utilities Fortnightly (PUF) and powered by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), the awards were held October 29 in Washington, D.C., where attendees selected the project as the overall Top Innovator of the Year through a live vote among five category winners.

The project is part of a National Grid pilot, stewarded by NYSERDA, exploring how flexible energy technologies can support the utility’s distribution network as electricity demand grows. At Peace Bridge Place, Viridi’s 3.75 MWh RPSLinkIN indoor battery energy storage system incorporates proprietary fail-safe technology designed to prevent thermal runaway propagation. During peak events, National Grid dispatch signals are delivered through EnergyHub‘s platform to Viridi’s energy management system, which then coordinates the response across the building’s battery and other energy systems.

Designed for safe installation in occupied buildings, Viridi’s RPSLinkIN system features proprietary Fail-Safe Anti-Propagation technology designed to prevent thermal runaway from spreading between battery cells. During UL 9540A testing, the technology demonstrated no cell-to-cell propagation and no detectable release of heat, sparks, smoke, gas or flames. The system has also earned UL 9540 certification from TÜV Rheinland, providing third-party certification of the complete energy storage system.

During demand-response events, the system can reduce the building’s net electricity consumption below zero, allowing the property to temporarily supply energy to the local distribution network during times when available capacity is constrained. This approach creates opportunities for utilities to better manage electricity demand while helping building owners reduce operating costs.

“This award recognizes a fundamental shift in how we think about energy infrastructure and the role buildings can play in supporting the grid,” said Jon M. Williams, CEO of Viridi. “At Peace Bridge Place, we’ve demonstrated that large-scale battery storage can be safely integrated into an occupied residential building, helping reduce peak demand and deliver value beyond the property itself. The opportunity now is to bring this model to buildings across the country, turning existing infrastructure into a resource for a more reliable, flexible energy system.”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is providing support to Good Carbon Co. for the Peace Bridge Place project through its Future Grid Challenge. The installation is part of Good Carbon’s broader clean energy strategy for Peace Bridge Place, which includes geothermal heating and cooling, domestic hot water improvements and building envelope upgrades. Together, these technologies support a fully electrified, energy-efficient building while creating opportunities to lower operating expenses, generate revenue through utility demand-response programs and support long-term housing affordability.

“Affordable housing shouldn’t have to choose between affordability, sustainability and innovation,” said Adam Serbert, CEO of Good Carbon Co. “At Peace Bridge Place, we’re showing how energy storage and intelligent energy management can help lower operating costs while turning a residential property into an active resource for the grid. This recognition is an important milestone, but the bigger opportunity is bringing this approach to affordable housing communities across the country.”

For National Grid, supporting the project with an upfront incentive in exchange for guaranteed dispatch rights demonstrates how collaboration with building owners and technology providers can help address rising electricity demand without relying solely on traditional infrastructure upgrades. By incorporating flexible energy resources into its distribution network, the utility is exploring new ways to manage peak demand while maintaining reliable, affordable service for customers.

“As electricity demand grows, we need innovative ways to make the most of existing grid infrastructure while keeping service reliable and affordable for customers,” said Sabina Zafar, VP of Connections & Strategic Accounts, National Grid. “The Good Carbon–Viridi project shows how smart controls, battery storage, and demand flexibility can turn buildings into active grid resources, offering a replicable model that creates customer value and reduces pressure on the system.”

For more information about the Peace Bridge Place project and the award-winning collaboration between Viridi, Good Carbon and National Grid, visit www.viridiparente.com.

About Viridi

Viridi is transforming energy storage with its proprietary fail-safe lithium-ion battery technology. Viridi’s battery energy storage systems (BESS) feature breakthrough anti-propagation technology, preventing propagation and significantly reducing the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. Viridi’s commercial-scale BESS is among the first and only to be installed in an existing, occupied building, setting a new benchmark for safety and reliability. Engineered for seamless integration into virtually any environment, the BESS combines advanced AI and connectivity to deliver unparalleled remote monitoring and energy optimization. Viridi enables clean, scalable energy solutions across industries, paving the way for a safer, more sustainable future.

Learn more at: www.viridiparente.com, and follow Viridi on LinkedIn.

About Good Carbon Co.

Good Carbon Co. is a clean energy-focused developer and financier advancing projects that combine environmental innovation with community impact. With a growing portfolio in affordable housing, renewable energy infrastructure and green innovation capital, the company partners with developers, investors and public agencies to deliver high-performance housing and clean energy systems that reduce emissions, lower costs and improve quality of life.

Guided by its mission to “Do well by doing good,” Good Carbon Co. bridges that gap between climate ambition and tangible, inclusive results – deploying sustainable infrastructure that addresses climate change while improving equity and affordability.

About National Grid

National Grid delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 20 million people across New York and Massachusetts. We’re committed to meeting our customers’ energy needs and supporting economic growth across the regions we serve—providing safe, reliable energy today and building the resilient networks of the future. National Grid Ventures, our commercial business, develops and operates infrastructure that delivers affordable and reliable energy to consumers. National Grid Partners, our venture capital and corporate innovation arm, invests in and collaborates with technology companies that are accelerating the future of energy and helping new technologies reach critical scale faster.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.

Media Contact:
Alexandra Pony
250.858.0656
[email protected]

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