Oneida Energy storage project. Twitter page of Chrystia Freeland
Oshweken/CMEDIA: The governments of Canada and Ontario arecollaborating to build the largest battery storage project in in the country, a news release has reported.
The 250-megawatt (MW) Oneida Energy storage project is being developed in partnership with the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation, Northland Power, NRStor and Aecon Group.
The government is providing a further $50 million in funding.
A key role has been played by the Canada Infrastructure Bank in supporting project development and is collaborating with the Oneida Energy storage project on an investment agreement.
Besides being another milestone in Canada and Ontario’s plans to build the reliable and affordable clean electricity grid, this project is will also help to power the future of Ontario’s economy.
“With this new federal investment…will help make electricity more affordable for Ontario families, and play an important role in building the clean electrical grid that Ontario will count on for generations to come,” Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the news release.
To support the growth of the province’s clean energy supply, Ontario has directed the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to enter into a 20-year contract for the Oneida Energy storage project.
Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford said that he was thrilled to see the building this world-class project with the collaboration of so many great partners to provide affordable, clean energy for generations to come and added
“With a growing population and as we secure game-changing investments in our economy, our government is supporting innovative and bold energy solutions to meet the increasing demand for power, including battery storage and small modular reactors.”
The operation of Ontario’s clean electricity grid would be supported by the Oneida Energy storage project by drawing and storing electricity off-peak when power demand is low, and returning the power to the system at times of higher electricity demand.
Scheduled to begin operations in 202, this project will not only provide enough power to meet the peak demand of a city the size of Oshawa.
Besides, this project will more than double the amount of energy storage resources on Ontario’s clean electricity grid from approximately 225 MW today to approximately 475 MW upon its completion in 2025.
“The Oneida Energy storage project represents a significant Indigenous-led development that will create good jobs for Canadians while reducing emissions…Canada is pleased to invest $50 million in building this project with Indigenous partners – resulting in one of the world’s largest battery storage projects,” said Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson.
In addition to actions already taken by the federal and provincial governments plan to meet emerging energy needs and ensure a reliable, affordable and clean electricity supply, the Oneida Energy storage project’s actions include setting up a Canada-Ontario Regional Energy and Resource Table,
- From the Government of Canada:
- Investing more than $1.5 billion in the Smart Renewables and Electrification Program to expand and decarbonize Canada’s grid;
- The Canada Infrastucture Bank is investing $970 million to build Canada’s first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at OPG’s Darlington site;
- Investing $3.8 billion in Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy, to enable the deployment of renewable energy technologies across Canada; and,
- Rolling out the Canada Greener Homes Grant program, which has helped over 40,000 Canadian households save on home energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
- From the Government of Ontario:
- Procuring 4,000 MW of new electricity generation and storage resources, which includes the largest planned procurement of clean energy storage in Canada’s history.
- Rolling out $342 million in new and enhanced energy efficiency programs while helping families and businesses reduce their electricity use so they can save money on their energy bills.
- Supporting Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) continued safe operation of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and tasking OPG to update their refurbishment feasibility assessment for the station.
- Building Canada’s first grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR) at OPG’s Darlington site.
- Directing the IESO to recontract clean generation at certain existing forest biomass facilities and hydroelectric facilities.
- Conducting a successful medium-term request for proposals to recontract existing resources at about 30 per cent discount, keeping costs down for ratepayers.
“The Oneida Energy storage project…accomplished through strong and meaningful partnership with Indigenous communities…part of our government’s larger plan for the decade to grow our reliable, affordable and clean electricity system, will ensure…new jobs to the province including unprecedented investments, from electric vehicles and battery manufacturing to clean steelmaking.” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy.
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