IEEE Workshop - Viridi
Deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for Resilient, Urban, and Institutional Power Infrastructure
As utilities, municipalities, and institutions face mounting pressure from aging infrastructure, load growth, electrification mandates, extreme weather, and AI-driven energy demand, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are emerging as a critical component of the modern energy ecosystem. This workshop, led by Hal Corin and Tess Williams from Viridi, will provide attendees with both a strategic and practical understanding of deploying advanced BESS solutions in complex urban and institutional environments.
The session will begin with an overview of the current state of the electric grid, including infrastructure constraints, generation challenges, increasing demand, and the growing role of digitization and distributed energy resources. Participants will explore the broader “technology stack” available to support grid resilience and decarbonization, with a focus on why BESS has become an ideal solution for demand management, resiliency, electrification, and operational flexibility.
The workshop will also address critical deployment challenges, including safety, utility interconnection, geopolitical supply concerns, system readiness, and regulatory considerations—particularly within dense urban environments such as New York City. Finally, attendees will gain practical insights into deployment pathways for universities, campuses, municipalities, and commercial facilities, including lessons learned from real-world projects and strategies for safe, scalable implementation.
Key Learnings
- State of the grid (infrastructure, generation, demand, and digitization) and challenges its facing
- Options to help/available “tech stack”
- Why BESS are ideal solution
- Challenges: safety, geopolitics, supply, readiness, utilities
- Opportunities for Universities and others
- Needs for NYC
Hal is Head of Origination and Strategy at Viridi, where he focuses on market development, partnerships, leading Viridi’s “Insights” software and connectivity division, and structuring of large programs. Hal comes to Viridi from JPMorgan Chase where he was Vice President, Global Head of Energy and Sustainability for Global Real Estate. There he ran global energy management and was responsible for delivery on JPMorgan Chase’s public sustainability commitments relating to operations (Scopes 1 and 2). Execution included managing energy procurement, all programs relating to decarbonization, efficiency, sustainability, water conservation, and renewable energy for the firm’s operations spanning 7500 properties in over 70 countries. Additionally, he oversaw energy-related capital programs (solar, microgrids, EV, etc.) while crafting strategy and conducting the development, due diligence, underwriting, and implementation of all solutions. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Hal served as Energy Manager for Jeffco Public Schools, a 100,000 occupant portfolio, where in addition to running sustainability and energy management function he frequently taught energy and conservation topics to students. Prior to joining Jeffco, Hal worked as a consulting Mechanical Engineer where he designed HVAC, energy plants, and authored technical studies for complex environments for Dewberry and Affiliated Engineers Inc (AEI). He served on the Corporate Advisory Board of the World Green Building Council. He twice served as Chairperson of the Colorado Association of School District Energy Managers (CASDEM). Hal is a graduate of the P.C. Rossin School of Engineering and Applied Science with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and also holds a MBA from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business at Elon University. Hal holds the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Energy Procurement Professional (CEP) professional designations.