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Last week, Viridity Energy announced it received a $900,000 Pennsylvania grant for an energy pilot project with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The state awarded funding through the 2010 Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority grant program.

As part of the project, Viridity Energy will deploy its software optimization system, which would enable SEPTA to recycle energy created from regenerative braking of trains and trolleys at a propulsion substation in Philadelphia. The project calls for Viridity Energy and SEPTA to install a large-scale battery to capture the braking energy along a portion of the Market-Frankford Line.

The project will help SEPTA cut energy costs, increase operational efficiency and decrease carbon emissions, Viridity Energy officials said in a prepared statement. SEPTA expects the pilot to generate savings of about $500,000. If the pilot project is successful, the agency might deploy the software system at all of its 38 substations.

“By moving towards energy storage, SEPTA will be assuming a leadership role among transit agencies,” said SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey.