The Ontario government has concluded the largest battery storage procurement in Canada’s history and secured the necessary electricity generation to support the province’s growing population and economy through the end of the decade. This procurement marks another milestone in the implementation of the province’s Powering Ontario’s Growth plan, helping to build the province’s clean energy advantage and ensure reliability for the future.
“Our government has secured astounding new investments for the province, from electric vehicle and electric vehicle battery manufacturing to green steel, and the good quality jobs that come with them,” said Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy. “We have now broken records once again by completing the largest battery storage procurement in Canadian history and securing the electricity generation we need to power the next major international investment, the new homes we are building and industries as they grow and electrify.”
The Ontario government and Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced that their latest round of procurement secured a total of 2,195 megawatts (MW) of capacity, enough to power the peak demand of 2.2 million homes.
This includes 1,784 megawatts (MW) of clean energy storage from ten projects ranging in size from 9 to 390 MW. When combined with the previous round of the procurement and the Oneida Battery Storage Facility, Ontario’s entire storage fleet will be comprised of 26 facilities with a total capacity of 2,916 MW, exceeding the government’s initial target of 2,500 MW. This includes the 390 MW Skyview 2 Battery Energy Storage System in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal, which will be the largest single storage facility procured in Canada.
The latest round of procurement also secured 411 MW of natural gas and clean on-farm biogas generation which together acts as an insurance policy, maintaining reliability on the hottest and coldest days of the year. This is consistent with the expert advice of the system planners at IESO whose Resource Eligibility Interim Report says: “Without a limited amount of new natural gas in the near term the IESO would be reliant on emergency actions such as conservation appeals and rotating blackouts to stabilize the grid.”
“With over $43 billion in automotive investments secured over the last four years, Ontario is now recognized as a leader in the global production and development of electric vehicles, batteries, and battery materials,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “By securing the largest battery procurement in Canadian history, our government is taking the next steps to ensure manufacturers have a reliable supply of clean energy to power their projects, all while further fueling economic growth and job creation across the province.”
Ontario’s progress in building the province’s clean electricity system has played a pivotal role in attracting new investments to the province, particularly those investing in large-scale manufacturing projects. These new procurements will help ensure companies investing in Ontario have the energy supply they need, as Ontario continues to grow its economy and electricity system.
“The continued success of adding new technologies and resources to the grid will ensure the electricity system is ready to support continued growth all across Ontario,” said Lesley Gallinger, president and CEO of the IESO. “The results of this procurement are also credit to the diligent collaboration between municipalities, Indigenous communities, proponents, and the IESO to ensure mutually beneficial projects go forward to secure our energy future.”
Featured image: The Skyview 2 Battery Energy Storage Project in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal. Credit: Potentia Renewables Inc.
