Scuderi Group, Inc. and ECS Sign Agreement for Hydro Powered Generation and Energy Storage System

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Nov. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Scuderi Group, Inc. announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Agawam, Mass.-based environmental consultants ECS to build and install a combined heating and power (CHP) generation system with compressed air energy storage (CAES) capabilities in an effort to lower energy costs at its Nonotuck Mill property. This will be the first Scuderi Engine to be designed and built to utilize hydropower.

According to the agreement, Scuderi Group will build a CHP and energy storage unit to be installed at ECS's headquarters, a 150,000 square-foot revitalized mill property that also houses a dozen environmental-based businesses and organizations. Taking advantage of the adjacent Mill River, the system will be designed to provide heating and power. The energy storage capability will enable ECS to store power efficiently during the night, and then provide less costly electricity to during the day when the building's power demands are very high. The unit will also act as a backup generator.

The Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine incorporates a unique and highly efficient power generation and compressed air energy storage capability that combines the energy of the high-pressure compressed air with the kinetic energy of the fuel to create a significant efficiency gain. When applied to properties with large power demands, the system has the capability to reduce electricity consumption up to 20 percent.

"The constant energy flow from a running river creates a perfect opportunity for the Scuderi energy storage technology," said Sal Scuderi, president of Scuderi Group.  "By tapping into the renewable hydropower, ECS will be in a better position to even further reduce their carbon footprint, while freeing up valuable resources put toward their business."

The Nonotuck Mill is rich in history, having attracted the first industrialists in the 1830s. The use of hydropower helped expand the operation. After credit collapse in 1837, the Northampton Association of Education and Industry, who chose to use it as a silk plantation and processing factory, purchased the property. Over the next six years, the site became an important stop along the Underground Railroad and was recognized as a nationally significant center for suffragist discourse. ECS and its development partners purchased the property in 2007.

"As stewards of the environment and business owners, incorporating the Scuderi Engine technology into our facility is a natural fit," said Daniel Felten, senior vice president of technology at ECS.  "We are excited to get the dam working again and take advantage of the natural resources around us." 

After an extensive review and evaluation of current and future energy usage at the sites, Scuderi Group will design and build the CHP generator with CAES capability that will be sized and optimized according to the property's specific requirements. The dam will also be evaluated to determine the most appropriate water turbine that best fits the structure and annual water volume.

The Scuderi engine provides a major advantage when generating power over conventional generators.  By utilizing the compressed air storage capability, the Scuderi engine can capture energy produced via the grid, wind, solar and other sources. Energy can then be provided on demand to users less expensively when power is in high demand. The system also increases the reliability and capacity of solar and wind farms so energy does not go to waste in off-peak hours. Because of the unique combustion process, the compressed air energy storage tanks require far less space than conventional compressed air energy storage systems.

About Scuderi Group
Scuderi Group, Inc., is an engine development company that has advanced the design of the internal combustion engine through its split-cycle engine technology known as the SCUDERI™ Engine. Through its Engine Development and Power Generation/Energy Storage engineering efforts, the company has discovered new ways that split-cycle thermodynamics can increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions beyond what conventional engines achieve today. Additionally, the Scuderi Engine provides the manufacturability and power density required by the world's largest engine manufacturers without the use of exotic parts or changes to the conventional engine block. Scuderi Group holds a patent portfolio that contains more than 500 patents filed and over 200 patents issued worldwide.   Scuderi Group is headquartered in West Springfield, Mass., USA, with offices in Frankfurt, Germany and Nagoya, Japan. For more information, visit www.ScuderiGroup.com.

About ECS
ECS is a pioneer in the field of environmental consulting, founded in 1982 at the genesis of the EPA. The company offers a variety of environmental services, including Air Quality/Industrial Hygiene, Construction/Development, Fuel System Management, Water and Wastewater Management, Emergency Response, Site Assessment, Health and Safety Training. The ECS full-service team includes engineers, geologists, hygienists, and scientists, who work to bring organizations into compliance or eliminate exposure. Headquartered in Agawam, Mass., ECS operates several offices around the U.S. For more information, visit www.ecsconsult.com.

SOURCE Scuderi Group, Inc.