Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator on May 16 announced it is moving forward with the procurement of seven new energy storage projects to provide 739 megawatts of capacity.
The IESO noted that electricity demand in Ontario is set to increase significantly in the next two decades as the economy grows and many fossil fuel-dependent processes switch to electricity. The IESO forecasts electricity demand to increase two per cent annually over the next 20 years.
The IESO is offering contracts to seven battery storage facilities located throughout the province, varying in size from 5 MW to 300 MW. These facilities will serve to meet both province-wide and local needs in a number of key locations.
The majority of the selected proposals have partnered with Indigenous communities, with five of the seven having at least 50 per cent economic interest from these communities.
