Newly Opened, JFK’s TWA Hotel is Always Grid Independent

June 7, 2019
Out of TWA’s vintage New York City terminal comes a new ultra-modern hotel with not only a microgrid, but one that is totally off grid.

The irony could not be any more conspicuous: the vintage Trans World Airline, known as TWA, ceased to exist nearly two decades ago. But a new hotel and conference center has formed around what had been the TWA terminal at New York’s JFK Airport — one that focuses on ultra modern energy technologies: a microgrid, on site electric generation and battery storage.

Indeed, the 512-room, 6-story hotel is particularly noteworthy from an energy perspective because it operates off grid — independent of local utility Consolidated Edison. This is unusual because most microgrids in the United States are grid-connected, especially if they are situated in an urban area. They typically disconnect only when a power outage occurs.

The vintage TWA terminal has been transformed into an ultra-modern hotel. Photo courtesy of Veolia

Why off grid?

The building owner chose to keep the building off grid because connecting to Con Edison’s system is costly, says Jesse Douglas, vice president of business development for Veolia, which operates the 1 MW plant. By avoiding the utility link, the complex is able to save millions a year. 

“It is now in full operation,” says Douglas. “It is running on its own power, and it has severed its connection from the grid. It is able to supply all of the heating, cooling and electrical needs. It is truly a small grid. It has on-site energy generation, storage and feeds the need of the convention center and hotel.”

MCR Development completed the project in May with sustainability and reliability in mind. The TWA Hotel microgrid uses combined heat and power that runs on natural gas. It is able to capture heat created in the generation process — thermal energy that in conventional generators wafts off wasted — and use it to make hot water and to heat and cool (via chillers) the facility. Because the heat is not discarded into the atmosphere the facility is highly efficient, consuming less fuel than would be otherwise necessary, so lowering emissions.

“We have full care, custody and control of the power plant,” says Veolia’s Douglas. “We are there 24-7. We operate and maintain the plant. We meet the energy requirements of the facility.

The plant is designed with multiple engines and battery energy storage, he adds, in an interview. “Those two things are designed to make the facility totally reliable. The battery storage is picking up variances in power demand. That way the power generation side can do what it needs to do.”

Specifically, three natural gas-fired generators and an NEC-made battery will deliver electricity to the entire facility, offering more than enough to power it, meaning the excess can be stored and released during peak hours.

Up, up and way into the microgrid future

“It’s exciting to see MCR Development bring this iconic architectural landmark back to life while at the same time incorporate first-of-a-kind off-grid, hybridized microgrid technology,” adds Steve Fludder, CEO for NEC Energy Solutions. “MCR had the vision to combine brilliant design and engineering of the past with an energy strategy of the future.”

New TWA Hotel at JFK airport features an innovative microgrid. Photo by Leonard Zhukovsky/Shutterstock.com

The TWA hotel uses an NEC energy storage solution that was designed expressly for “this innovative, behind the meter application,” he adds. “Our system is lightweight and compact enough to accommodate the unique rooftop location and powerful enough to handle the demanding needs of this unique hotel property.”

The combined heat and power unit was designed by Jenbacher, a subsidiary of General Electric. Veolia operates the plant under a long term maintenance contract. Waldron Engineering is the engineer of record for the new energy system. 

Track news about innovative microgrid projects. Subscribe to the free Microgrid Knowledge newsletter.

About the Author

Ken Silverstein

Since the late 1990s, I've covered energy, beginning with the rise and fall of Enron -- first as a magazine writer before becoming a columnist. For more than seven years, I've been a columnist for Forbes while also expanding my coverage to include key environmental issues and emerging technologies such as microgrids. I've also done some global reporting of those same issues that touch the African and Asian regions. My work has appeared in, and by cited by, dozens of publications and broadcasts.

Related Content

petrmalinak / Shutterstock.com

DOE Funds Long-Duration Energy Storage Microgrid for California Tribe

March 18, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office has made a conditional commitment to provide a $72.8 million partial loan guarantee for the development of a solar plus long...
Image credit Tommy Lee Walker/Shutterstock

Microgrids Help Create Data Centers that Don’t Break the Grid or the Environment

March 18, 2024
A new model for data center design uses microgrids to provide flexibility and clean energy that reduces grid stress. Other models focus on modular data center design and providing...
Brandon Olafsson / Shutterstock.com

Department of Energy Spending Up to $200M Connecting Remote Microgrids

March 15, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy is currently accepting proposals for transmission projects that would connect remote and isolated microgrids to each other or to existing transmission...
U.S. Army photo by Scott Darling, Fort Cavazos Public Affairs)

U.S. Army Improves Resilience at Fort Cavazos with New Microgrid

March 14, 2024
U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, will use the microgrid to power critical services and infrastructure during outages and to reduce energy costs during...

Only through Standardization Can Microgrids Accelerate the Energy Transition

Jan. 18, 2024
Jana Gerber, North America microgrid president at Schneider Electric discusses how standardizing microgrids will accelerate the energy transition.

Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33

Global Energy Trends 2023

Over 2021-22, environmental, macro-economic, and geopolitical shocks have put the global energy transition under pressure.