Residents get first look at 100 MW Battery Storage project proposed at Paris landfill site

By Casandra Turnbull

At an open house on Thursday, residents learned more about a potential renewable energy storage project proposed at the Paris landfill site Boralex, a Quebec based company with more than 30 years specializing in wind, solar, hydroelectricity and storage, wants to construct a battery energy storage facility on a section of the landfill site. The system’s capacity will target storage of up to 100 megawatts for four hours. That’s equivalent to 100,000 kilowatt hours (kwh) of stored energy in four hours. The average family uses 750 kwh a month, so the facility has the capability of storing and releasing enough energy to power 133 households for an entire month, in just four hours. Its power source will connect from an existing Hydro One transmission line into a Boralex-owned substation on the facility grounds. Its primary function is to store energy so it can create on-demand energy into the provincial electricity grid during peak times, as requested by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

As the province aims to lower carbon emissions by reducing dependency on fossil fuels, the electrical sector is preparing for an increased demand on the grid with the introduction of things like electric vehicles and more electric heat sources. The IESO is addressing this demand by securing up to 4,000 megawatts of capacity for energy storage projects like this one.

A diagram of how Boralex’s 100 megawatt battery storage facility will operate to store and release energy to the provincial hydro grid Boralex hosted an open house at the Brant Sports Complex on November 16th to unveil details about the renewable energy project proposed at the Paris landfill site. The project is not yet approved.

However, there’s a long process, set out by the IESO, that potential companies like Boralex must complete to be awarded the project. Applications for this long-term proposal are due in December. If they are awarded the project, they must comply with a number of regulations – complete technical studies, pass environmental studies, vegetation management studies, sound impact assessments, provide (and get approval on) detailed engineering designs, create emergency response procedures, obtain permits and work with county staff, Brant Municipal Enterprises and residents to finalize the project details

“This is a concept right now,” said Marnie Dawson, Manager Greenfield Origination for Boralex. “We want to hear what the public has to say. Now is the time to make adjustments (to the project),” she added, while speaking to the Paris Independent during the public open house on November 16th

Dawson’s job is to secure land for Boralex to build its solar, wind, hydropower generation and battery energy store projects. They’ve built renewable energy projects across southwestern Ontario for over ten years now This will be the company’s third battery storage project, if approved. Two others in Hagersville and Tilbury are already under way, approved by the IESO during the expediated RFP process announced in 2022.

“Brant Municipal Enterprises reached out to us,” said Dawson on how the company settled on a Paris location “We were scouting this area, so the timing was good. We’ve been in talks with BME for more than a year now,” she confirmed.

BME will lease approximately 15.5 acres from the County of Brant Paris Landfill site, approved by County Council on October 24th. BME will then sublease this land to Boralex, should the project be awarded.

The County, through BME, will receive lease payments for the use of lands, along with a Royalty payment in line with other Community Benefit Agreements signed for renewable and battery storage projects. Boralex has a Community Vibrancy Fund, Dawnson explained. Communities who lease land to the company are eligible to receive $1,000 per megawatt – so if this project is awarded at its full capacity of 100 megawatts, the County of Brant is in line to receive $100,000 from Boralex, plus whatever fees are agreed upon to lease the land.

The site and project align with BME’s strategic objectives to leverage unused or underused county land to generate revenue and provide renewable energy or decarbonizing projects that assist in reducing the county’s carbon footprint

If the project is approved by the IESO, an announcement is expected the first or second quarter of next year, Boralex must begin technical studies and a class environmental assessment. Company representatives at Thursday’s open house assured residents of the project’s safety, noting the battery storage units are designed and manufactured to adhere to and pass evolving safety tests prior to operation. Thermal management systems, such as fans, ventilation and cooling, are used to ensure the storage units do not explode or combust in the event of a fire. The facility will be equipped with safety controls (sensors) to detect potential abnormal battery behaviours.

Specialized safety training will be provided to first responders and onsite personnel to ensure there’s a comprehensive response plan in place in the event of an emergency More details about this project will be available as it goes through the approval process If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach out to Marnie by email at marnie.dawson@boralex.com or to Anjali Purohit, Manager, Environment & Community Relations for Boralex at Anjali purohit@boralex com

Pictured is a map of the proposed project location –at the Paris landfill site (outlined in red). The small green patch is the area under consideration for battery containers and associated infrastructure. The yellow line is the proposed hydro line of interconnection.

With The Paris