October 18th, 2023
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NOTICE IN MUNICIPALITY OF OTTAWA
Long-Term Reliability Project Name: 548T
Address: 650 Upper Dwyer Hill Road, Ottawa, ON
Facility: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
Nameplate Capacity: 120-megawatt/480-megawatt hour
Proponents Name: 1000234763 Ontario Inc.
Public Meeting: 1:00 pm on November 24th, 2023 – on Microsoft Teams (please see Public Meeting Details for link).
IESO Procurement Background
After more than a decade of strong supply, Ontario is entering a period of emerging electricity system needs, driven by increasing demand, the retirement of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, the refurbishment of other nuclear generating units, and expiring supply contracts at other facilities.
To address these needs, the Long-Term Request for Proposals (LT1 RFP) is expected to competitively procure 2,518 MW of year-round effective capacity from dispatchable new build resources. These include new build storage facilities, registered or able to become registered in the IESO-administered markets, larger than 1 MW and which can deliver a continuous amount of electricity to a connection point on a distribution system or transmission system for at least four consecutive hours. The LT1 RFP Proposal Submission Deadline is December 12, 2023 prior to 3:00 P.M. (EPT).
Proponent Information
1000234763 Ontario Inc., operating as Solar Flow-Through Funds (SFF), is a group of limited partnerships with offices in Vancouver and Toronto. SFF has partnered with SFF has partnered with two First Nations communities in Ontario to co-own the facility to participate in IESO’s long-term capacity procurement to ensure reliability in Ontario’s electricity grid. SFF develops facilities and technologies that contribute to the global reduction of greenhouse gases and use of fossil fuels. Currently, SFF’s portfolio consists of 70 operating solar projects in Ontario, totaling 29 MW DC.
The Proponent is a Qualified Applicant under the IESO procurement process. SFF has retained SolarBank Corp. (formerly known as Abundant Solar Energy Inc.), an experience renewable energy project developer, to prepare applications for the LT1 RFP, which are due on December 12th, 2023. If selected for the IESO contract in Q2 2024, permitting and development would commence in Q3 2024; and all protocols including but not limited to safety, environmental protection, site plan approval, and applicable visual screening will be followed. The projects are expected to be operational in 2026, and then operating for 22 years per LT1 Contract.
Developer
SolarBank is acting as an agent and developer for SFF. SolarBank is a Canadian renewable and clean energy project developer and asset operator. Since 2013, SolarBank has enabled the proliferation of renewable and clean energy contributing to reduce carbon emission goals through its development, engineering, and asset management services in Canada and the United States.
Project Information
Nameplate Capacity: 120-megawatt/480-megawatt hour
The proposed utility grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be located at 650 Upper Dwyer Hill Road (refer to site plan). The system will be a 120-megawatt/480-megawatt hour battery energy storage system using lithium-ion battery technology. The BESS is expected to occupy approximately 10 acres of land, including all required setbacks and spacing and will be located close to an existing solar array site, independently connected to the Ontario electricity grid. The BESS will be charged by the local grid overnight when there is low electricity demand and will supply power to the grid at times of high demand, providing significant benefits to grid reliability. BESS components include containerized units housing all necessary batteries, inverters, fire suppression and extinguishment, and HVAC systems. Please see below for the proposed site plan.