The Napanee Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has officially started commercial operations, with construction completed on budget and ahead of schedule.

The 250-megawatt (MW) facility, located west of Kingston, is capable of powering 250,000 homes for up to four hours during peak demand periods and is one of the largest operating battery storage projects in Canada.

The project, which is valued at $600 million, was selected through the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Expedited Long-Term 1 competitive procurement process. Results of a second, companion process, are expected to be announced this summer.

 “The completion of the Napanee Battery Energy Storage System is a major step forward in strengthening our clean electricity grid and securing eastern Ontario’s energy future,” said Energy Minister Stephen Lecce. “This project will help power up to 250,000 homes in eastern Ontario during peak demand, support three highly-skilled jobs and reinforce our plan to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant province.”

With electricity demand forecasted to grow by up to 90 percent by 2050, the province says offsetting periods of high demand and extreme weather periods is crucial to maintaining grid reliability.

The Napanee BESS includes 284 battery storage units, transformer stations, transmission connection facilities and ancillary components that will store electricity from Ontario’s nuclear facilities during periods of low demand and return that stored power to the system when demand is higher.

Development and construction of the Napanee BESS supported 120 jobs, including skilled trades, engineering, transportation, and equipment manufacturing roles.

The facility is being jointly run by a joint venture of Atura Power (a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation) and Ameresco Canada.

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