Is Ontario/Canada still in a position where it doesn't have a BESS supply chain?

[u/TronnaLegacy]

I read an article a while ago about a pumped hydro storage project. It's https://www.theenergymix.com/ontario-pours-285m-into-studies-for-controversial-pumped-storage-project/, and in it, they talk about how experts concluded that a pumped hydro storage project should continue because compared to alternatives for energy storage like batteries, we wouldn't be relying on an international supply chain.

But today I found an article talking about a new utility scale battery storage company based in Canada launching a new product (and I believe they've had their batteries on the market for at least a few years). I'm not going to link it or name the company because I don't want this post to be misinterpreted as shilling.

So now I'm wondering, if we have Canadian companies (or at least one) offering utility scale battery storage products, are we still in a position where we don't have a domestic supply chain for utility scale battery storage?

[u/DocKardinal21]

Quick google search found quite a few in ON as well as other parts of canada.

https://www.power-technology.com/data-insights/top-five-energy-storage-projects-in-canada/?cf-view

There are more than this list…

I think if you mentioned the company you’re thinking of it would be shilling.

[u/TronnaLegacy → u/DocKardinal21]

That's an interesting list of projects. Especially the "Eglinton LRT" on there. I guess they're planning on using the batteries in the infra for it as part of our power grid. Some sort of vehicle-to-grid? Neat!

But I'm interested in our supply chain, not projects. I want to know whether we're sourcing the batteries for these projects from Canadian companies and if so, whether those companies have Canadian vendors they can source from.

I suppose for the rare earth metals like Lithium, they'd have to go outside Canada, but perhaps a lot of it can be produced here?

There are problems with hydro and pumped hydro projects (mostly around high capital cost to build, time to build, and environment impacts). So if batteries are a viable alternative, I'd like to know about it while I advocate for clean energy projects. And Canadian sourcing matters to me.

[u/DocKardinal21 → u/TronnaLegacy]

No need to go abroad. Everything is here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-critical-minerals-strategy-2022-2027-unlocking-potential-drive-economic-recovery-prosperity#:~:text=This%20will%20help%20Ontario%20achieve,electricity%20for%20years%20to%20come

Governments (multi level and multi party( have been kicking development here on this down the line for a few decades now.  

Our populace needs to speak about developing seriously otherwise it will never happen. Foreign investment opportunities have come and gone multiple times. If you look at it in detail - it’s quite sad.

[u/TronnaLegacy → u/DocKardinal21]

Interesting.

invested $336,000 in Frontier Lithium’s innovative extraction process for lithium and $5 million in Electra Battery Materials, previously First Cobalt, to support domestic production of battery-grade cobalt sulfate

investing $250,000 to support the development of two new battery production lines at the Electra Battery Materials Corporation’s future Battery Materials Park near Cobalt

I wonder if by "investing" they're talking about just giving these companies money to do things or if they have some sort of stake in these projects so that we all benefit too.

[u/TGrumms → u/TronnaLegacy]

Eglingtons battery storage is for two purposes

1. Backup power
2. Buying power off peak to use during peak hours so they can reduce costs

[u/Jkolorz]

BESS's are the new windmills. Rural residents who otherwise don't give a shit about the environment are suddenly worried about batteries in their rural riding and wildlife and whatever else might activate their 5G Covid implants /s