Canada approves new solar and battery energy storage project

    The Alberta Public Utilities Commission of Canada has approved the deployment of a solar residential solar system cost energy + energy storage project. It plans to deploy a 13.5MW solar power generation facility and an 8MW / 8MWh battery energy storage in Drumheller town of the province. system.

    The committee ruled in a lawsuit published on April 20 that it planned to invest 25.6 million Canadian dollars (about 18.2 million US dollars) to deploy the Dranheller solar and battery energy storage project in the public interest, taking into account Social, economic, environmental and other impacts. The project will generate enough electricity to meet the electricity demand of the residents of Drumheller.

    This project will be jointly developed by energy developer Longspur Developments and local businessman Robert Bilton, and will be connected to the local distribution service provider ATCO Electric's 25kV distribution system, and then to the Alberta power system. The project will deploy fixed-angle solar panels, series inverters, and container-type lithium-ion battery energy storage systems. The battery energy storage system will be charged when the local power demand is low, and then discharged to the grid during peak power demand. Longspur said this means that the project will offset peak loads and ease the pressure on the power system.

    When the project is connected to the local distribution network, the battery energy storage system will only be charged through the solar power generation facility and not through the grid. At the same time, the project will serve as a solar and energy storage demonstration project applicable to the local area and will receive a $ 5 million grant from the Alberta Emissions Reduction Program (ERA).

    The project will be deployed on a 60-acre site near the town of Drumheller. Longspu said it expects the project to open in the summer of 2021, and it will pay $ 24,000 in land rent to the town each year. The local community will also receive long-term income from the property tax levied on the project. Although Longspur stated on its website, the final development schedule of the project may be affected by various factors, including power market drivers.