GlobalFoundries Vermont Battery Storage: 16 MW Added
October 6, 2026 — GlobalFoundries recognized the delivery of approximately 6 MW of on-site solar and a 16 MW battery energy storage system at its Essex Junction, Vermont site. Developed by Encore Renewable Energy and Lightshift Energy, the systems will come fully online in the coming months and operate for over 20 years.
Key Takeaways
- GlobalFoundries announced on October 5, 2026 that it delivered approximately 6 MW of new on-site solar arrays and a 16 MW battery energy storage system at its Essex Junction, Vermont site.
- Lightshift Energy’s Michael Herbert described the battery as Vermont’s largest and said it is intended to shave peak demand, defer transmission and distribution upgrades, and make room for more renewable energy on the grid.
- The two solar projects occupy more than 30 acres of underutilized industrial land, according to Encore Renewable Energy founder and president Chad Farrell.
- GlobalFoundries says the systems will come fully online in the coming months and remain in service for over 20 years, as part of its Journey to Zero strategy covering energy, water and emissions.
- GlobalFoundries developed the projects with Vermont regulators, the City of Essex Junction, VELCO and Green Mountain Power, and says the battery was engineered to work with sensitive semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
What GlobalFoundries Delivered in Essex Junction
According to a GlobalFoundries press release dated October 5, 2026, the company recognized the successful delivery of approximately 6 MW of new on-site solar arrays and a 16 MW battery energy storage system at its Essex Junction, Vermont site. The projects were developed by Encore Renewable Energy and Lightshift Energy. GlobalFoundries said the solar arrays and battery help it optimize energy use, manage costs, and put underutilized industrial land to productive use. Per the company, the systems will come fully online in the coming months and will be in service for over 20 years. The release did not state the battery’s energy capacity in MWh or its discharge duration.
Who attended the milestone event
GlobalFoundries said its leaders were joined by Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, Julie Moore, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and project developers Encore Renewable Energy and Lightshift Energy.
Peak Demand Reduction and Grid Benefits
Lightshift Energy managing partner and co-founder Michael Herbert said the battery is Vermont’s largest and that its ability to shave peak demand grows at scale. Herbert added that the project delivers value to GlobalFoundries as one of Vermont’s major employers and to the wider state by reducing peak demand costs, deferring costly transmission and distribution upgrades, and making room for more renewable energy on the grid.
Engineering for Semiconductor Power Quality
Dan Colello, vice president and general manager of Fab 9 at GlobalFoundries, said power quality is critical at the site. GlobalFoundries said it developed both projects alongside Vermont regulators, the City of Essex Junction, and utility partners including VELCO and Green Mountain Power.
Solar on Repurposed Industrial Land
Encore Renewable Energy founder and president Chad Farrell said the two solar projects use land that was once heavily used and then largely forgotten. The arrays total approximately 6 MW. It does not specify the number of panels, annual generation in MWh, or the share of site electricity the solar will supply.
Part of GlobalFoundries’ Journey to Zero Strategy
GlobalFoundries said the projects are part of its local commitment to Vermont’s renewable energy program and its broader environmental strategy, Journey to Zero, which guides the company’s work across energy, water, and emissions.
“This site has been in the business of firsts for almost 70 years, and today we’re celebrating a new way of powering the semiconductor innovations we make,” said Dan Colello, vice president and general manager, Fab 9, GlobalFoundries. “The significance of the battery project is the thought and engineering behind it. At a manufacturing site where power quality is critical, the team took the time to thoroughly study, validate and design a solution that can work in harmony with the highly sensitive, advanced manufacturing equipment that powers our operations.”
“Economic growth should always be a priority of government as well as clean energy innovation and affordability,” said Governor Phil Scott. “And when we do it right, like everyone has done on this project, it helps us achieve our economic and environmental goals faster.”
“This site is ready for its second act – an encore as a bright field, bringing new energy to the land and the regional power grid.” said Chad Farrell, founder and president, Encore Renewable Energy. “These two solar projects show the potential in spaces that were once heavily used and then largely forgotten. The sun still shines on this land, and now more than 30 acres of it are delivering real value to GlobalFoundries, the region and the state.”
“As Vermont’s largest battery, the opportunity to shave peak demand becomes even greater at scale — and that’s really the point of this project,” said Michael Herbert, managing partner and co-founder, Lightshift Energy. “It delivers value to GlobalFoundries as one of Vermont’s major employers, and it delivers value to the rest of Vermont by reducing peak demand costs, deferring costly transmission and distribution upgrades and making room for more renewable energy on the grid.”
Source: GlobalFoundries
I'm Amelia Bonner, an energy storage researcher and technical content writer focused on the technologies shaping the future of reliable, flexible, and sustainable energy systems. My work explores battery energy storage, grid-scale storage, renewable energy integration, battery technologies, and emerging energy storage solutions.
