SunEdison has signed a 10-year agreement with Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator to supply 5 megawatts/20 megawatt-hours of battery storage to the province.
In addition to leveraging the battery’s storage capability, the IESO intends to use data from this energy storage project to analyze how storage can be used to smooth the power flow from wind and solar, defer expensive system upgrades, and ultimately shape the future of its grid.
This project stands as SunEdison’s first large-scale, commercial, grid-connected energy storage project, and is one of the first commercial applications of flow batteries in Canada.
In a press announcement, Tim Derrick, SunEdison’s general manager of Advanced Solutions, said, “By integrating energy storage into their grid, the Ontario IESO gains access to a powerful new tool that has the potential to transform how it operates the power system. Batteries can be used to reduce grid congestion, smooth out power flow from solar and wind sources, and may help the IESO defer or avoid expensive upgrades to the grid.”
Vanadium redox flow battery technology will be provided by Imergy Power Systems. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first half of 2017, with completion slated for later that year. Operation and maintenance of the battery systems will be performed by SunEdison Services, which provides global asset management, monitoring, and reporting services.
The IESO states it is exploring how energy storage can be integrated into the day-to-day operation of Ontario’s electricity system and market by procuring up to 50 megawatts (MW) of energy storage for Ontario in two phases.
“Energy storage has the potential to transform how the IESO plans and operates the power system by providing a range of real-time grid balancing services and injecting or withdrawing energy on demand. Under some conditions, it can reduce local congestion in transmission and distribution networks, which will allow utilities to defer, or even avoid, expensive system upgrades; optimize the performance of renewable resources by smoothing out natural fluctuations in solar and wind production; and provide ramp support when demand for electricity rises (or falls) quickly. “
An increased amount of news coverage about grid-connected storage solutions can be anticipated in the coming year.
Related: Energy Storage Means Never Having To Say You’re Sorry, Says Greensmith
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