'Worthy of celebration': Newmarket power grid getting a boost

New facilities will absorb power during periods of excess energy supply, deliver it back to the grid when energy demand is high

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 26, 2019
Teresa Latchford

Newmarket is getting charged up.

Ameresco Inc., an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced the completion of an energy storage project in Newmarket on behalf of Ontario’s Independent System Operator (IESO).

The project began in 2015 when the company landed an agreement to design, build, own and operate the energy storage systems. The two solid-state lithium-ion battery energy storage systems connect to the local Newmarket-Tay Power Distribution Ltd. grid, which will absorb power during periods of excess energy supply and deliver it back to the grid when energy demand is high. This not only utilizes stored power that would otherwise be wasted but also increases the grid’s reliability and stability.

“The investment that IESO has made in its grid infrastructure is worthy of celebration,” said Bob McCullough, Ameresco Canada Inc. president. “Battery storage is central to the better utilization of all assets within the electricity system, better value to ratepayers and reduction of our carbon footprint. Taking this action now will demonstrate how energy storage facilities deployed at the distribution level can facilitate more cost-effective designs of both transmission and distribution infrastructure while providing greater power reliability to local areas, regardless of peak energy demands.”

To learn more, visit Ameresco.com.