Project software provider Greensmith has executed a number of projects for frequency regulation in the US. Image: Greensmith.
Swiss manufacturer Leclanché will supply battery storage systems to a 13MW capacity storage project with 53MWh of storage duration in Ontario to be used for voltage control and in providing reactive power support to the grid.
Greensmith, a complete storage system provider which has specialised in software and integration services, will provide software to the project through its GEMS control platform software. Investors in Greensmith include German utility E.On.
A new company, Hecate Canada Storage II is acting as project developer and selected Leclanché for the 53MWh, which LeClanche said would be spread across several locations. The battery system provider will work with Deltro Energy, which is acting as procurer, designer and constructor on the project, including overseeing connection to high voltage grids, while Deltro selected Greensmith during that process.
Leclanché said the project was anticipated to close financing during the first half of this year, with the projects expected to come online in the final quarter.
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Ontario’s IESO has made 50MW procurement in two phases
The ancillary services project is part of a procurement by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), which reached its target of awarding contracts to 50MW of energy storage systems in November last year. The 50MW was awarded in two phases.
The storage systems deployed by IESO will have several purposes. In the instance of the Leclanché/Deltro facilities, they will cover six ancillary services agreements with the IESO, to provide fast-acting response to voltage control and reactive power. Ontario’s rising levels of renewable energy contributing variable sources to the high voltage grid is driving this forward, Leclanché said.
Other storage systems in the region are being expected to allow the cost of transmission and distribution upgrades to be deferred, others still will provide reliable backup power and provide arbitrage services, shifting electricity loads to maximise favourable economic conditions to counter peaks.
In November 2014, when awarding a tranche of contracts, Ontario’s minister for energy Bob Chiarelli described storage technology as “one of the most innovative and exciting aspects of our energy policy.”
“It will help strengthen our system and improve service to electricity consumers,” the minister said.
The project has seen a variety of technologies deployed, including batteries, compressed air storage and flow batteries.
