BESS Municipality of Arran-Elderslie

LINKS

Long-Term Reliability Project: OZ-1

Project Update: please note, the project site has been relocated to less than 200 meters north, to the parcel directly north of the site. The updated project address is 157 7th St SW, Chesley, ON N0G 1L0.

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, Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) aimed to procure approximately 3,500 megawatts of capacity through the first Long-Term Request for Proposals (LT1 RFP), a complimentary expedited process (E-LT1 RFP), and a Same Technology Upgrade process. The LT1 RFP, together with the E-LT1 RFP were intended to competitively procure year-round effective capacity from dispatchable New Build resources, including New Build hybrid electricity generation and storage facilities.

Proponent Information

1000234813 Ontario Inc. (ProjectCo), is a subsidiary entity Solar Flow-Through Fund Ltd. (SFF), a corporation with offices in Vancouver and Toronto and a group of First Nations entities located in Ontario. SFF was acquired by PowerBank Corp. in July 2024. ProjectCo participated in IESO's long-term capacity procurement to help ensure the reliability of Ontario's electricity grid. develops facilities and technologies that contribute to the global reduction of greenhouse gases and the decreased use of fossil fuels. Currently, PowerBank's portfolio includes 70 projects in Ontario, totaling 28.8 MW DC. PBK remains a Qualified Applicant under the IESO procurement process. 

Developer

PowerBank is a public company based in Toronto, ON, and is a renewable and clean energy project developer and asset operator. Since 2013, PowerBank has enabled the proliferation of renewable and clean energy contributing to Net Zero carbon emission goals through its development, engineering, and asset management services in Canada and the United States.

Project Information

Nameplate Capacity: 4.99 megawatt/19.96-megawatt hour

Please note that all mentions of 5-megawatt size in this notice is rounded from 4.99-megawatt.

As part of the procurement, ProjetCo is proposing to install a utility grid-connected battery energy storage system (BESS). The project was originally proposed to be located at 60 Industrial Park Road, Chesley, ON N0G 1L0 and has since been relocated to 157 7th St SW, Chesley, ON N0G 1L0. 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. The system will be a 4.99-megawatt/19.96-megawatt hour battery energy storage system using lithium iron phosphate technology.

 

Community Engagement Plan

Community engagement for this project has been completed. PowerBank hosted multiple public information sessions to provide local residents with an opportunity to learn about the project, ask questions, and raise any concerns. Adjacent property owners and the municipality were notified of the meetings via correspondence, and direct engagement with municipal representatives was conducted as part of the process.

PowerBank will continue to update the local community and the municipality as the project progresses.

Completed Community Engagement

Old Location — 60 Industrial Park Rd

• 1st public information session: November 16, 2022
• Presentation to Council — Monday, December 12, 2022
• 2nd public information session: January 5, 2023
• Presentation to Council — January 9, 2023 (MSR Granted)

New / Current Location — 157 7th St SW, Chesley, ON N0G 1L0

• Public Information Session – October 3, 2024
• Presentation to Council — November 12, 2024 (MSR granted)
• Presentation to Council — March 10, 2025

QUESTIONS AND CONTACTS:

Please feel free to reach out to the contact below if you have any questions regarding the procurement process, companies involved, and/or proposed projects.