BARRE, Vt., March 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Northern Power Systems Corp. (TSX: NPS), a leading next generation renewable energy technology company, today announced its state-of-the-art FlexPhase power conversion system has been selected by UniEnergy Technologies (UET) and Avista Corp. to provide advanced power conversion for the largest capacity flow battery deployed in North America.  The battery, located in Pullman, WA near Washington State University and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), went online in April 2015.  The project was funded in part by a grant from the Washington State Clean Energy Fund, now in its second round, and Avista matching funds. 

The batteries are manufactured by Washington-based UET, and integrated with the NPS power converters. The core of the UET system is an advanced vanadium flow battery, engineered utilizing Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL) technology developed starting in 2006 with funding from the DOE's Office of Electricity. The system has been used to date by Avista for load shifting, frequency regulation, and voltage regulation on the distribution circuit in Pullman. With the addition of the NPS converters, the UET product will also support Avista's end customer SEL, offering uninterruptible power supply, black start and four-cycle ride-through to SEL's manufacturing facility. 

"We have been working with UET for some time now as they have selected and integrated the advanced Northern Power FlexPhase technology power converter into their offering for sophisticated grid-forming applications," commented Diego M. Tebaldi, VP of Global Business Development for Northern Power Systems, adding "The capabilities and value of our technology provide a unique solution for these demanding applications."

David Ridley, UET Director of Electrical Engineering said, "We are pleased to be working with Northern Power Systems on this critical project, as their technology allows us to extract the best value for the customer and enable functionalities like black-start, seamless critical load support and microgrid-ready features that most others aren't offering."

Avista Fellow Engineer Curt Kirkeby said, "It's exciting to work with Northern Power Systems as we explore the possibilities and promise of battery storage. A key business objective for the deployment of storage technology at Avista's Energy Storage Project is to leverage both operational and market value streams throughout the operational life of the asset. In order to achieve this objective, Avista required a power converter technology which could seamlessly switch between modes of operation without an interruption of service. The NPS FlexPhase technology power converter allows the transition between business values requiring ride-through and microgrid capability to business values requiring participation in ancillary markets."

About Northern Power Systems
Northern Power Systems designs, manufactures, and sells wind turbines and power technology products, and provides engineering development services and technology licenses for energy applications, into the global marketplace from its US headquarters and European offices.

• Northern Power Systems has almost 40 years' experience in technologies and products generating renewable energy.
• Northern Power Systems currently manufactures the NPS™ 60 and NPS™ 100 turbines. With over 10 million run time hours across its global fleet, Northern Power wind turbines provide customers with clean, cost effective, reliable renewable energy.
• Patented next generation permanent magnet direct drive (PMDD) technology uses fewer moving parts, delivers higher energy capture, and provides increased reliability due to reduced maintenance and downtime.
• Northern Power Systems' FlexPhase™ power converter platform uses patented converter architecture and advanced controls technology for advanced grid support and generation applications.
• Northern Power Systems offers comprehensive inhouse development services, including systems level engineering, advanced drivetrains, power electronics, PM machine design, and remote monitoring systems to the energy industry.
• Some of the world's largest manufacturers license the company's next generation technology and IP for their utility and distributed wind products and markets.

To learn more about Northern Power Systems, please visit www.northernpower.com.
For more information on UET, please visit http://www.uetechnologies.com

Notice regarding forward-looking statements:
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Northern Power Systems and its business, which may include, but is not limited to, product and financial performance, regulatory developments, supplier performance, anticipated opportunity and trends for growth in our customer base and our overall business, our market opportunity, expansion into new markets, and execution of the company's growth strategy. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "is expected", "expects", "scheduled", "intends", "contemplates", "anticipates", "believes", "proposes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Northern Power Systems. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, including risks regarding the wind power industry; production, performance and acceptance of the company's products; our sales cycle; our ability to convert backlog into revenue; performance by the company's suppliers; our ability to maintain successful relationships with our partners and to enter into new partner relationships; our performance internationally; currency fluctuations; economic factors; competition; the equity markets generally; and the other risks detailed in Northern Power Systems' risk factors discussed in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including but not limited to Northern Power Systems' Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2015, as well as other documents that may be filed by Northern Power Systems from time to time with the SEC. Although Northern Power Systems has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Northern Power Systems undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Pavel Jakovlev
Marketing Manager
+1 802-461-2955 ext.7
[email protected]

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SOURCE Northern Power Systems Corp.