What is front-of-the-meter (FTM) energy storage?
FTM storage sits on the utility side of the grid, providing large-scale energy services that benefit the entire electrical system.
Front-of-the-meter (FTM) energy storage refers to battery systems connected directly to the electrical grid on the utility side — not behind a customer's meter. These are typically large-scale installations (10 MW and above) owned or contracted by utilities, independent power producers, or merchant developers.
Unlike behind-the-meter (BTM) storage, which primarily serves an individual building's energy needs, FTM storage provides services to the grid as a whole. These include absorbing excess renewable generation when supply exceeds demand, discharging stored energy during peak demand periods to reduce strain on the grid, providing frequency regulation and voltage support to maintain grid stability, and deferring costly transmission and distribution infrastructure upgrades.
FTM storage is a critical enabler of the clean energy transition. As solar and wind generation grow, the grid needs large-scale, flexible storage to manage the intermittency of these resources.