Taking Action on Long Duration Energy Storage
By Justin Rangooni
Executive Director, Energy Storage Canada
Across Canada we are seeing acknowledgement of the vital role energy storage will play in balancing our grids and the decarbonizing our electricity systems.
Ontario recently announced a competitive procurement for 2.5 GW of utility scale storage and saw the 250 MW Oneida Energy Storage project take another step toward commercial operation. Alberta has nearly 100 MW of installed capacity, with more than 2.5 GW in the queue to connect.
On the East Coast, we saw NB Power soliciting proposals for 50 MW energy storage projects in New Brunswick & the Government of Nova Scotia tabling amendments to the Electricity Act & providing budget funding, that would enable the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables to issue competitive procurements for energy storage.
Most of these projects – planned and installed – are short duration (4 hours or less) lithium-ion batteries, which provide much needed (and urgent in some provinces) capacity and ancillary services to keep the lights on in the next decade.
However, as system planners and decision makers across Canada continue to plan and begin to action pathways to decarbonization, it will be imperative to incorporate not just short duration, but also long duration energy storage (LDES). And these plans and actions need to happen now, given the long development timeline for long-duration technologies.
Long duration energy storage refers to the storage of large amounts of electricity for an extended period, typically ranging from several hours to days. Some of the technologies included in this category are pumped hydro electric storage, emerging battery storage, thermal storage, or compressed air energy storage (CAES).[1]
In fact, Canada has a long history with LDES, notably Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) pumped hydro storage project in Niagara Falls. And 90% of the installed energy storage capacity in operation around the world is pumped hydro storage.
Several Long duration technologies are proven and operational in electricity grids around the world. Others are close to being ready for deployment to provide benefits to our energy system and support Canada’s energy transition. ESC members are already deploying these technologies around the globe, and they’re keen to develop comparable projects here in Canada now.
That’s good, because long duration energy storage is essential if we are going to reliably integrate the diversity of generation sources necessary for a sustainable grid. LDES assets also help to balance supply and demand, which will become increasingly important with the electrification of Canada’s grid.
However, if we are going to ensure these assets are built and operating when we need them, we need to include them in our plans and actions today to enable their timely development
That’s why we kicked off 2023 by launching a new LDES Working Group for our members, which will aim to focus on securing the immediate support of decision makers to incorporate LDES in their plans and actions
We look forward to sharing further details of the work this group will be doing because there is no net zero for Canada without energy storage – of all durations.
[1] Find more details on these different technologies from our friends at the Long Duration Energy Storage Council: http://www.ldescouncil.com/ldes-technologies/