Power Engineering – Ameresco completes 16-MWh energy storage system in Ontario

Ameresco has completed a 4-MW, 16-MWh energy storage project for Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

The project began four years ago when Ameresco secured two energy storage facility agreements with IESO to design, build, own and operate the “Battery Solid” storage systems. The two solid-state lithium-ion battery systems connect to the Newmarket-Tay Power Distribution grid at a capacity of 4 MW.

“The investment that IESO has made in its grid infrastructure is worthy of celebration,” said Bob McCullough, president of Ameresco Canada Inc. “Battery storage is central to the better utilization of all assets within the electricity system, better value to ratepayers, and reduction of our carbon footprint.”

Both systems absorb power during periods of excess energy supply and deliver it back to the grid when energy demand is high. This project also demonstrates the value of future ancillary services, which would allow IESO to charge or discharge instantly to provide frequency regulation, voltage control and spinning reserve services to the grid, according to Ameresco.

“Taking this action now will demonstrate how energy storage facilities deployed at the distribution level can facilitate more cost-effective designs of both transmission and distribution infrastructure while providing greater power reliability to local areas, regardless of peak energy demands,” McCullough added.

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