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Ontario completes Canada’s largest battery storage procurement

Ontario completes Canada’s largest battery storage procurement
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The Ontario government has completed what it calls the largest battery storage procurement in Canada’s history, securing necessary electricity generation to support the province’s growing population and economy through the end of the decade.

The Ontario government and Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) announced that their latest round of procurement secured a total of 2,195 MW of capacity.

This includes 1,784 MW of storage from ten projects ranging in size from 9 to 390 MW. Combined with the previous round of procurement and the Oneida Battery Storage Facility, Ontario’s entire storage fleet will include 26 facilities with a total capacity of 2,916 MW, exceeding the government’s initial target of 2,500 MW. A part of that capacity- the 390 MW Skyview 2 Battery Energy Storage System in the Township of Edwardsburgh Cardinal, which will be the largest single storage facility procured in Canada.

This round of procurement also secured 411 MW of natural gas and clean on-farm biogas generation.

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“With over $43 billion in automotive investments secured over the last four years, Ontario is now recognized as a leader in the global production and development of electric vehicles, batteries, and battery materials,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “By securing the largest battery procurement in Canadian history, our government is taking the next steps to ensure manufacturers have a reliable supply of clean energy to power their projects, all while further fueling economic growth and job creation across the province.”

The newly procured energy resources are part of Powering Ontario’s Growth, the government’s plan outlining the actions the province is taking to meet growing energy demand and reduce emissions, including:

  • Nuclear energy – Advancing nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power, four small modular reactors at Darlington, and supporting Ontario Power Generation’s plan for refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.
  • New transmission infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern, and Eastern Ontario for industries like EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.
  • Energy efficiency – Launching new energy efficiency programs on January 1, 2025, building on the government’s $342 million expansion of existing energy efficiency programs.
  • Additional competitive procurements – A successful re-contracting of existing resources at about a 30% discount and planning more competitive procurements for non-emitting electricity resources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, and bioenergy.

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