Torus and Rocky Mountain Power, following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU), on Feb. 7 released additional technical details about the integration of Torus’s commercial energy storage technology into Rocky Mountain Power’s Wattsmart Battery program. The proposed 70-MW demand response initiative will leverage Torus’s Nova Spin and Nova Pulse technologies to enhance grid reliability. Torus is based in South Salt Lake, Utah. The company’s Nova Spin flywheel energy storage system was recently recognized in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 list. The partnership between Torus and Rocky Mountain Power will support Utah’s Operation Gigawatt initiative, which is designed to double Utah’s power production over the next 10 years and expand Torus’ demand response capabilities, deploying technology that provides:
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Sub-250 millisecond response time with 99% system uptime.
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Real-time frequency regulation maintaining 60 Hz stability.
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Voltage support for both 208V and 480V three-phase power.
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Nova Spin has a C-rating 10x higher than traditional chemical batteries.
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The project is expected to be completed within 12-18 months.
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Up to twice the operational lifespan of conventional battery systems.
Rocky Mountain Power is featured in the Department of Energy’s latest VPP Liftoff Report, which highlights the Wattsmart program as a best-in-class battery virtual power plant (VPP), providing both bulk system level value and distribution system value for grid and customers. “This technical implementation demonstrates how our relationship with Rocky Mountain Power will deliver both grid resilience and energy security,” said Nate Walkingshaw, CEO of Torus. “As highlighted in the DOE VPP Liftoff Report, demand response programs are crucial for managing grid challenges while reducing costs.” “Enhancing and expanding the Rocky Mountain Power system is the key to meeting Utah’s energy future,” said Dick Garlish, president of Rocky Mountain Power. “Collaborating with innovative leaders in technology and energy, like Torus, is essential to meet the goals of Operation Gigawatt.” The Torus capabilities will help create a VPP that can support Utah’s ambitious economic growth plans while contributing to the DOE’s goal of deploying 80-160 GW of VPPs nationwide by 2030.
For Utah’s expanding base of data centers and industrial facilities, the Torus technology will provide:
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Power quality management through Nova Sync frequency conditioning.
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Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) functionality with sub-250ms failover.
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Long duration backup through hybrid flywheel-chemical storage systems.
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On-site generation integration with automated dispatching.
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Real-time performance monitoring across millions of data points.
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Predictive maintenance through AI-driven systems analysis.
