Maryland secures 440 MW of battery storage in initial procurement

The Maryland Public Service Commission awarded 440 megawatts and 1,760 megawatt-hours of bulk energy storage in its first procurement round, Utility Dive reported. The state targeted 800 megawatts for the initial phase under the Next Generation Energy Act, but awards fell short as the regional grid operator PJM Interconnection continues to face capacity constraints. [1]

State lawmakers passed the Next Generation Energy Act in 2025, according to Utility Dive. The legislation mandates that Maryland conduct at least two solicitation rounds to secure a total of 1.6 gigawatts of energy storage capacity. All participating projects must be capable of discharging at full power for a minimum of four hours. [1]

Maryland features a diverse geography ranging from the Appalachian Mountains to the coastal plain of the Eastern Shore, which is bisected by the Chesapeake Bay. The state recorded a gross domestic product of $512.3 billion in 2023, supported by professional services, life sciences, and proximity to federal agencies near Washington, D.C. [3]

Utility Dive reported that state regulators announced the initial contract awards on Thursday to meet the statutory deadline. Maryland is legally required to open bidding for the subsequent solicitation round to pursue its remaining capacity targets. [1]