FirstLight

What FirstLight does

FirstLight is a private, North American clean power producer, developer, and energy storage operator with 1.6+ GW of operating capacity and a 4+ GW development pipeline spanning pumped-hydro storage, conventional hydroelectric, utility-scale solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and onshore/offshore wind. The company owns and operates New England's largest energy storage asset, the 1,168 MW Northfield Mountain Pumped Hydro Storage Station, alongside legacy hydro facilities such as Shepaug (42.6 MW), Stevenson (28.9 MW), Cabot (62 MW), and Turners Falls (6 MW) that have operated for 100+ years. It also runs smaller behind-the-meter BESS installations (Brandeis University 780 kW / 1.6 MWh; UMass Dartmouth 520 kW / 1.04 MWh) and is developing utility-scale solar (Fort Frances 57.2 MW) and large-format BESS projects (Fort Frances 50 MW / 400 MWh; Tunnel 16 MW).

The company's technology stack combines long-duration pumped hydro and run-of-river hydroelectric generation with utility-scale lithium-ion BESS and solar, packaged as 'hybrid energy solutions' that deliver flexible clean power and ancillary services to the grid. Primary customers are utilities, grid operators, and institutional off-takers across the Northeast US, Ontario, and Quebec — including the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) under 20-year power purchase agreements awarded through Ontario's Long-Term 2 Request for Proposals, FERC-regulated US licensing arrangements, and competitive wholesale electricity markets.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through wholesale electricity supply and capacity contracts rather than retail or consumer pricing. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; contract terms are long-dated (20 years for major Ontario awards) and structured through regulated tariffs, competitive bidding (IESO LT2), and bilateral PPAs. The company employs 200+ staff (many unionized), operates from Burlington, MA with regional offices in Montreal and Oshawa, manages 14,000+ acres of land, and is currently owned by PSP Investments; Hull Street Energy announced a pending 2026 acquisition of the US portfolio.

Name

FirstLight

Legal name

FirstLight Power

Website

https://firstlight.energy

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FirstLight is a private North American clean power producer and energy storage developer operating 1.6+ GW of pumped-hydro, hydroelectric, solar, and battery assets, selling wholesale electricity and capacity to utilities, grid operators, and institutions across the Northeast US, Ontario, and Quebec via long-term PPAs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Clean Power Production and Energy Storage

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Electric Power Generation (22111), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Structuring & Offtake (PPAs, CfDs, Corporate PPAs, Merchant Strategy) (EUAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development-Stage M&A & Portfolio Acquisition (Early-Stage/Ready-to-Build) (EUAMAAAF), Electrical Systems O&M (Substations, Transformers, Switchgear, Protection & Controls) (EUAMAGAH)

Keywords

• Renewable energy generation
• Pumped hydro storage
• Hydroelectric power production
• Utility scale battery storage
• Wholesale clean power

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electricity Generation and Sales: FirstLight generates electricity from its diversified portfolio of hydroelectric, pumped-hydro storage, solar, and battery storage facilities and sells power through long-term contracts, competitive bidding processes, and wholesale electricity markets.
2. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): FirstLight secures 20-year contracts through IESO's Long-Term 2 Request for Proposals for solar projects, providing stable recurring revenue from utility-scale clean energy supply agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FirstLight is a clean power producer and developer that operates a diversified portfolio of more than 1.6 GW of operating renewable energy and energy storage assets, including pumped-hydro storage (Northfield Mountain at 1,168 MW and Rocky River at 29 MW), conventional hydroelectric stations across Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Quebec, utility-scale solar, and lithium-ion battery energy storage systems. The company sells wholesale electricity and grid services to utilities and system operators through long-term power purchase agreements, FERC-regulated licensing arrangements, and competitive procurement processes such as IESO contracts.

Product overview

FirstLight is a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company serving North America with a diversified portfolio of over 1.6 GW of operating renewable energy and energy storage technologies and a development pipeline with 4+ GW of hydro, solar, battery, onshore and offshore wind projects. The company's core offerings include pumped-hydro energy storage facilities (Northfield Mountain at 1,168 MW and Rocky River at 29 MW), conventional hydroelectric generation (Shepaug, Stevenson, Cabot, Turners Falls, and numerous other stations across Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ontario, and Québec), utility-scale solar (Northfield Mountain Solar, Fort Frances Solar Project), and battery energy storage (Brandeis, UMass Dartmouth, Fort Frances BESS, Tunnel BESS). FirstLight specializes in hybrid solutions that pair these technologies to deliver flexible and reliable clean energy. The company also maintains extensive land stewardship with recreation areas including campgrounds, hiking trails, the Northfield Mountain Recreation Center, and Connecticut River Cruises.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Northfield Mountain Pumped Hydro Storage Station Pumped-hydro energy storage facility with 1,168 MW capacity across 4 generating units, capable of powering over 1 million homes for up to 7.5 hours. Stores energy in an upper pond and releases it through turbines when electricity is needed, providing grid-scale storage and ancillary services to wholesale electricity markets.
• Rocky River Pumped Hydro Storage Station The first pumped hydro storage station in the United States, completed in 1929, and Connecticut's largest energy storage facility at 29 MW, using Candlewood Lake as its upper reservoir.
• Cabot Generating Station Massachusetts' largest conventional hydropower facility with 62 MW capacity, located on the Connecticut River in Montague, operational since 1915.
• Turners Falls Generating Station Five-unit conventional hydroelectric station on the Connecticut River with 6 MW capacity, providing clean renewable hydropower since 1905; currently in FERC relicensing process (FERC No. 1889).
• Shepaug Generating Station Connecticut's largest hydroelectric generation station with 42.6 MW capacity, located on the Housatonic River, the second largest source of carbon-free electricity in the state.
• Stevenson Generating Station Large Connecticut hydro station with 28.9 MW capacity on the Housatonic River, supplying over 100,000 MWh of clean hydroelectricity annually since 1919.
• Twin Falls Generating Station Five-unit hydroelectric station on the Abitibi River with 27.5 MW capacity at 17 meters gross head.
• Iroquois Falls Generating Station Twelve-unit run-of-river hydroelectric station on the Abitibi River with 29.7 MW capacity at 13 meters head.
• Island Falls Generating Station Four-unit hydroelectric station on the Abitibi River with 44.3 MW capacity at 19 meters gross head, a run-of-river plant with local storage capability.
• Northfield Mountain Solar Generating Station 2 MW Class I renewable solar generation facility, the first privately owned utility-scale solar station in Massachusetts.
• Fort Frances Solar Project 57.2 MW solar project developed in partnership with Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation (50% partnership stake) on Municipal and private lands north of Fort Frances, Ontario. Awarded through IESO's Long-Term 2 procurement; expected to power approximately 8,000 Ontario households under a 20-year contract.
• Fort Frances Battery Energy Storage Project Battery energy storage system being developed on Municipal-owned lands northwest of Fort Frances, Ontario, with capacity of up to 50 MWac and 8-hour discharge duration (400 MWh), targeting commercial operation by 2029.
• Tunnel Battery System 16.02 MW / 4-hour lithium ion battery storage project being developed in collaboration with New Leaf Energy to replace the decommissioned Tunnel Jet Gas Peaker, co-located with FirstLight's existing Tunnel Hydro facility to increase renewable energy supplied to Connecticut communities.
• Brandeis University Behind-the-Meter Battery Behind-the-meter battery storage system (780 kW / 1.6 MWh) using Tesla Powerpack 2.1 technology that lowers peak electricity costs for Brandeis University while improving reliability and decreasing the university's carbon footprint.
• UMass Dartmouth Battery Storage Behind-the-meter battery storage system (520 kW / 1.04 MWh) using Tesla Powerpack 2.0 technology serving students and faculty at UMass Dartmouth by lowering peak costs and improving campus reliability.
• Leading Light Wind Offshore Wind Project American-led offshore wind project being developed by Invenergy and energyRe with funding from FirstLight, Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, CDPQ, and the Ullico Infrastructure Fund; will deliver 2,000+ MW of clean power to the Northeast when completed, enough to power 650,000+ homes annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Northfield Mountain operation saves Massachusetts ratepayers $220 million from 2022-30 while removing over 875,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• ISNsupportingTechnology or Integration · 5 May 2026FirstLight extended its use of ISN's ISNetworld contractor management platform to additional operations in Quebec and Ontario, Canada. The expansion enables FirstLight to use ISNetworld tools including Online Training and RAVS 360 to streamline contractor onboarding, ensure regulatory and insurance compliance, and maintain consistent safety standards across its North American renewable energy portfolio.
• Lac Des Mille Lacs First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026FirstLight and Lac Des Mille Lacs First Nation were awarded a contract for a 57.2 MW solar project in Fort Frances, Ontario through IESO's Long-Term 2 Request for Proposals. The First Nation holds a 50% partnership stake in the Fort Frances Solar Project, which will generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 8,000 Ontario households under a 20-year contract term.
• New Leaf EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirstLight is developing the Tunnel Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in collaboration with New Leaf Energy. The 17 MW battery system will replace the decommissioned Tunnel Jet Gas Peaker and will be co-located with FirstLight's existing Tunnel Hydro facility to increase renewable energy supplied to Connecticut communities.
• InvenergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Light Wind is an American-led offshore wind project developed by Invenergy and energyRe with funding from FirstLight, Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, CDPQ, and the Ullico Infrastructure Fund. Upon completion, the project will provide 2,000+ MW of clean power to the Northeast.
• energyRecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Light Wind is an American-led offshore wind project developed by Invenergy and energyRe with funding from FirstLight, Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, CDPQ, and the Ullico Infrastructure Fund. Upon completion, the project will provide 2,000+ MW of clean power to the Northeast.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• EDF Renewables North America: Subsidiary of EDF with utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects across North America. Comparable to FirstLight as a developer-operator selling clean power to utilities under long-term contracts, with similar downstream exposure to corporate and utility PPAs.
• NextEra Energy Resources: Largest US wind and solar operator and a major battery storage developer, with significant merchant exposure and contracted renewables across North American ISOs. Comparable to FirstLight as a utility-scale clean IPP selling into regulated procurement and merchant markets.
• Brookfield Renewable Partners: One of the world's largest publicly traded renewable IPPs with a diversified hydro, wind, solar, and storage portfolio spanning North America, South America, and Europe. Closest large-scale diversified hydro/solar/storage peer to FirstLight's asset mix and PPA-driven model.

Regional players

• Vattenfall: Swedish state-owned utility with one of Europe's largest hydro and pumped-hydro storage portfolios. Comparable as a hydro/IPP operator with FERC-like regulatory licensing and long-duration storage assets, though operating primarily in Europe rather than North America.
• Statkraft: Norwegian state-owned generator and Europe's largest renewable energy producer, with a portfolio dominated by hydroelectric power and flexible storage. Comparable to FirstLight's pumped-hydro-led storage strategy and hydro-weighted mix, though primarily European.

Direct peers

• Cube Hydro Partners: US-focused small-hydro IPP operating run-of-river and conventional hydroelectric facilities under FERC licenses, now part of Brookfield. Highly comparable to FirstLight's conventional hydro fleet in regulatory regime, asset class, and North American geography.
• Clearway Energy: US-focused renewables IPP with a portfolio of wind, solar, and battery storage assets selling power under long-term contracts. Similar in scale, contract structure, and pure-play renewables model, though less hydro-weighted than FirstLight.
• Boralex: Quebec-based IPP with a portfolio of wind, solar, hydroelectric, and storage assets concentrated in Canada, the US (notably New York and the Northeast), and France. Strong overlap with FirstLight's Northeastern US and Canadian footprint and renewable technology mix.
• Innergex Renewable Energy: Canadian-headquartered IPP operating hydro, wind, solar, and storage assets across Canada, the US, France, and Chile with a heavy long-term PPA model. Highly comparable in geography (Quebec/Ontario), technology mix, and offtake structure to FirstLight.
• H2O Power: Canadian operator of small-to-mid-scale hydroelectric generating stations in Ontario, including operating partnerships with FirstLight's Ontario assets. Closest direct operating peer in Canadian hydro scale and structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FirstLightPower
• Facebookfacebook.com/northfieldmountain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/firstlight-energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FirstLight