The New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology (NY-BEST™) Consortium was announced in 2009 to position New York State as a global leader in energy storage technology including applications in transportation, grid storage, and power electronics. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is providing approximately $25 million in seed funding through New York’s participation in the Clean Air Interstate Rule to establish this consortium and support New York's advanced energy storage sector. In January 2010, the consortium was incorporated as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit corporation and in March 2010, the 50 organizing members met to elect their board of directors.
The primary objectives of NY-BEST are to:
- Accelerate the commercial introduction of energy storage technology in New York;
- Build the human capital and expertise to sustain a vibrant commercial energy storage industry in New York; and
- Leverage seed resources of approximately $25 million to create a sustainable organization that provides value to its members and to New York State. The objective is for NY-BEST to become operationally self-sufficient within the next three to five years.
By bringing together New York’s energy storage companies, universities, and partners, NY-BEST will help build and promote a vibrant, world-class, advanced battery and energy storage sector in New York. Energy storage technologies supported by the consortium include those that store electric energy directly such as batteries and ultracapacitors, components of these technologies, and systems or products that incorporate these technologies throughout the value chain.
The CAIR Plan, approved by the NYSERDA Board establishes the parameters under which NY-BEST will be funded by New York’s participation in the Clean Air Interstate Rule. The plan is available here: CAIR Plan.