The global push toward clean energy presents today’s utilities with unprecedented challenges: modernizing aging grid infrastructure, integrating intermittent renewable sources and maintaining reliability amid extreme weather events and surging electricity demand.

The impact of this transition is particularly apparent in the Commonwealth of Virginia, where converging forces are reshaping the energy landscape for utilities. The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) mandates that utilities sunset traditional power plants and achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Electricity demand is increasing, especially in Northern Virginia, the world's largest data center market. Home to more than 35% of all hyperscale data centers worldwide, Northern Virginia’s data centers represent 13% of global operational capacity. Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity, already making up an estimated 25% of Virginia’s total electricity demand. Meanwhile, Virginia has experienced an increased number of severe storms, cyclones and other extreme weather events that threaten grid reliability. From 2020 to 2024, the state experienced an average of $8 billion-dollar weather disasters annually, almost three times the long-term annual average.

This combination of rapid electricity demand growth, diversified energy resources and increasing extreme weather demands that utilities quickly and decisively invest in robust and reliable power infrastructure. Faced with these mounting grid pressures, Virginia's utilities are implementing solutions at an industry-leading scale.

Dominion Energy is the largest utility in Virginia, covering a service area spanning much of the eastern part of the Commonwealth. The utility predicts that electricity demand in its service territory will double by 2039. VCEA has also mandated Dominion Energy to deliver 100% renewable electricity by 2045 while requiring the development of 2,700 megawatts (MW) of energy storage capacity in the Commonwealth by 2035.

Dominion Energy: Transforming Virginia's grid

To achieve these targets, Dominion Energy is spearheading Virginia’s regional grid transformation to create a smarter, more responsive network through a multi-billion-dollar clean energy and grid modernization strategy and 21 gigawatts (GW) of planned renewable energy development by 2039.

Critical to Dominion’s success is deploying new battery energy storage systems (BESS), flexible, multifaceted grid assets that can allow operators to integrate renewable energy, enhance grid reliability and meet peak demand. In its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, Dominion carved out a target of 4.5 GW of new BESS capacity by 2039 and immediately began to search for an integrator to design a storage system that would meet the utility’s stringent safety specifications.

Dominion was already familiar with Hydro-Québec’s subsidiary, EVLO Energy Storage, through early discussions with EVLO's development team about the utility's operational and safety requirements. These conversations led to the establishment of EVLO’s Product Innovation Advisory (PIA) board, where existing and prospective customers are invited to provide market and user feedback. Through this collaboration, EVLO had already built a strong foundation of trust and transparency with Dominion, standing out with a utility-focused approach.

Building on their established relationship, the two organizations were well-positioned to work together to develop next-generation BESS solutions for optimal safety and performance in Virginia.

Shared utility DNA

In addition, EVLO brought an added layer of trust to its relationship with Dominion, built on their shared foundation in the utility sector. The company’s approach to energy storage is deeply rooted in the heritage of its parent company, Hydro-Québec, a public utility managing the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec. As Canada's largest power utility and North America's leading renewable energy producer, Hydro-Québec brings more than 80 years of operational expertise to EVLO's development process.

The integrator’s “utility DNA” is further strengthened by Hydro-Québec's extensive research and development capabilities. Since establishing its research institute in 1970, the state-owned utility has maintained one of the industry's most comprehensive R&D operations, with over 500 experts working at the forefront of power system innovation. The utility's pioneering work spans decades, from developing 735 kV transmission systems in the 1960s to early breakthroughs and patents focused on the lithium iron phosphate battery technology in the 1990s.

Enhanced safety features

With 2.7 million electric customers in Virginia alone, Dominion requires stringent safety measures for its facilities to ensure service reliability and protect surrounding communities. EVLO’s proactive commitment to comprehensive safety features made it an ideal match for Dominion's operational standards.

"Public safety is at the core of everything we do, so much so that we actively exceed existing safety regulations with our own stringent standards,” explained Robert Hare, Manager of Construction at Dominion. “EVLO not only welcomed our safety requirements but exceeded expectations, collaborating with us to develop the safest, most cost-effective BESS solution possible. EVLO's rigorous approach involves multiple layers of protection to prevent safety incidents and ultimately minimize and mitigate any errors.”

For this collaboration, Dominion selected its EVLOFLEX BESS, which achieved UL 9540 certification for its comprehensive safety features. By design, EVLOFLEX employs lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, known for its longer cycle life, increased stability and safety and higher efficiency compared to other lithium-ion alternatives. EVLOFLEX also includes layers of protection at every level – from cell to enclosure – with both active and passive fire mitigation strategies that exceed NFPA 69 requirements, such as failsafe venting panels that operate even during power outages. Additional features, such as an internal container fire panel, sensors and horns, were added specifically to meet Dominion’s requirements.

Notably, EVLO demonstrated its commitment to meeting Dominion's robust cybersecurity requirements – an important consideration given that Dominion's service territory includes critical federal infrastructure. While many manufacturers offer standardized products only, EVLO undertook a year-long process to further enhance its control and communication systems to meet Dominion’s heightened security specifications.

Meeting Dominion’s rigorous performance and safety specifications on paper was important, but real-life, grid-connected testing would be critical for validating the control compatibility of the system prior to installation.

Real-world testing for real-world challenges

At EVLO’s live test line – one of the only facilities of its kind in North America – every safety feature of the augmented EVLOFLEX underwent rigorous testing on a live distribution network. This dedicated facility enables comprehensive validation of BESS performance under actual grid conditions.

"Our tests go beyond what is required," explains Jon Sorenson, who is responsible for North American Business Development at EVLO. "We are one of the only BESS companies in North America with a test line connected to a live distribution grid. We're constantly testing and troubleshooting, coming up with different ideas and processes. It's a true living lab."

This testing enables the identification of potential issues before commercial deployment, minimizing end-user risks and ensuring compliance with safety standards.

“When I’ve visited their facilities, I’ve been impressed by how thorough the EVLO teams are in testing and retesting their systems,” said Hare. “They are diligent, thoughtful and thorough in their application of design changes. The result is a much higher level of confidence in the product and an expectation of reduced surprises during commissioning.”

Through a meticulous process of design and testing, EVLO has successfully improved the safety and performance of EVLOFLEX, achieving predelivery certifications. The enhanced EVLOFLEX system incorporates a suite of advanced safety features such as external and internal fire control panels and redundant hazard detection systems. These measures not only meet Dominion’s requirements and earned the augmented system a UL 9540 certification, but they also align with broader industry standards like NFPA 72.

Dominion worked closely with EVLO throughout the design process and UL certification, conducting extensive testing to achieve predelivery certifications that recognize BESS safety, reliability and performance.

“Dominion leads the way when it comes to fire and safety regulations,” said Sorenson. “Their input was invaluable in refining the EVLOFLEX system to exceed even the most stringent safety requirements. The EVLOFLEX amended for Dominion is by far the safest product in the battery energy storage market.”

Powering Virginia's clean energy transition

The successful collaboration between EVLO and Dominion will result in the deployment of more than 300 megawatt-hours (MWh) of amended EVLOFLEX BESS across three large-scale projects in Virginia. These systems, scheduled for commissioning in 2025 and 2026, are designed to ensure grid reliability while advancing the goals of the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA).

The VCEA represents Virginia’s most ambitious clean energy initiative yet. By mitigating the intermittency in renewable energy production, the EVLOFLEX systems will play a critical role in bolstering grid reliability throughout this transition.

“Public trust is built on the safety and reliability of the systems we deploy,” said Hare. “EVLO’s ability to meet our safety standards gives us confidence in their solutions.”