3940 North Service Road East
Windsor, ON N8W 5R7
Walker Battery Energy Storage Project 6
Walker BESS 6 is a proposed 4.999 Mega-Watt (“MW”) lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) that will be located at 3940 North Service Road East, Windsor, ON, N8W 5R7. The Project will be submitted to the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (“IESO”) Request for Proposals under the Expedited Long-Term 1 procurement on Feb 16, 2023.
As it is of utmost importance to us that Walker BESS 6 be correctly integrated into the City of Windsor, we are seeking to incorporate public feedback through Public Community Meetings and this Project Website into the development of this Project.
Provincial Needs
Ontario is entering a period of emerging electricity system needs driven by increasing residential and commercial demand due to the electrification of the automotive sector, growth of the agriculture sector, the retirement of the Pickering nuclear plant and refurbishment of other nuclear-generating plants, and expiring contracts for existing facilities.
In response, the IESO is conducting procurements, including the Expedited Long-Term Request for Proposals (“E-LT1 RFP”), to secure more than 4,000 MW of capacity in Ontario. Facilities that successfully demonstrate their capabilities will be contracted by the end of 2023, with operations starting as early as May 1, 2025.
The Walker BESS 6 Project, among other electricity storage sites, will help address emerging global and regional electricity needs for the coming decades.
Electricity Storage Explained
When Ontario’s electricity grid needs more power (like on the hottest days of the year), the IESO turns to on-demand resources, like energy storage, to support Provincial electricity needs. A decentralized energy storage infrastructure can prevent emergency grid events such as rolling blackouts, and help defer more capital-intensive system upgrades that directly impact the rate-payers. Ideally, BESS sites are located near electricity substations or 3-phase power lines to improve overall efficiencies.
Although energy storage comes in different shapes and sizes, the lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) is the fastest emerging technology in North America and is planned to be deployed in the City of Windsor with the Walker BESS 6 Project.
Project History and Description
Walker BESS 6 is a proposed 4.999 Mega-Watt (“MW”) lithium-ion battery storage Project located at 3940 North Service Road East, Windsor, ON, N8W 5R7, under development by Walker BESS 4 Inc.* This infrastructure project will bring significant investment and local benefits including employment, lease payments and capital spending in the local economy.
Walker BESS 6 Project is being developed by Wahgoshig Solar FIT5 LP, approved by the IESO among the 55 Qualified Applicants with the experience and capabilities to successfully develop, construct, and operate facilities acquired through these procurements.
*formerly Walker BESS 4 Limited Partnership
Components
The Walker BESS 6 Project will consist of lithium-ion battery cells connected in stacks and installed inside an enclosed area, like a shipping container or a small enclosure. The enclosed area will also house the balance-of-plant equipment such as an inverter, a battery management system and a dedicated HVAC unit for proper ventilation. The battery packs feed inverters that connect to a transformer tied to the power grid. The Project will also have a 20-foot wide private access road connecting the site with North Service Road East.
Compliance
The Walker BESS 6 Project will comply with all regulatory bodies permitting requirements including the Electrical Safety Authority, the City of Windsor, and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Safety
The Walker BESS 6 Project will use dedicated HVAC systems to remain well-ventilated to keep the batteries at the optimal operating temperature. Additionally, as part of the Project’s proposed Community Engagement activities, Walker BESS 4 Inc. will sponsor certified fire safety training for fire department personnel at the Windsor Fire and Rescue Services.
Security
The Walker BESS 6 Project will have restricted access to prevent any health and safety incidents and be monitored 24×7 through a secure remote-monitoring facility.
More information about the IESO’s Long Term Capacity Procurement and the list of Qualified Applicants:
Location
The Windsor-Essex region has been identified as an area that can benefit from new electricity capacity based on IESO’s guidance. Walker BESS 6 Project will connect to distribution-level EnWin feeder along the southern boundary of the Property on North Service Road East. For a more detailed site plan, please see Figure 1: Walker BESS 6 Project Site in the Community and Indigenous Engagement Plan.
Figure 1
Benefits to the Community
There are various economic and non-economic Community Benefits associated with Walker BESS 6, a proposed key energy infrastructure project located in the City of Windsor. The Walker BESS 6 Project will provide power to meet growing regional demand in the Windsor-Essex area, lease revenues for local landowners, additional property taxes for the City of Windsor and economic activity within the City of Windsor.
Creation of high-skilled jobs in construction – civil works, mechanical installation, electrical connection, landscaping.
Property tax benefits, diversified income stream for landowners, especially on under-utilized land.
The development of Walker BESS 6 in the industrial zone of the City of Windsor will serve the larger electrical resiliency requirements of the Windsor-Essex area.
In 2005, the City of Windsor started on the path of environmental actions with its first Environmental Master Plan. The City then developed many other plans to help balance the environment with Windsor’s economy and social atmosphere, which include:
- Environmental Master Plan (2017)
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan (2012)
- Community Energy Plan (2017)
- Corporate Climate Action Plan (2017)
- Report on the State of Our Environment (2017)
- Green the Fleet Manual (2012)
- Community Garden Policy
- Sustainable Purchasing Guide (2015)
Battery Energy Storage Systems support the integration of flexible generation resources and provide intelligent resilience to the regional electricity grid. Walker BESS 6 will further support the electrification of transport and the environmental sustainability goals laid out by the plans from the City of Windsor.
Anticipated Project Timelines
2022
Land Lease
- Technical Assessments
- Permitting Review
2022 → 2023
IESO Procurement
- Consultation with municipality and neighbours
2023 → 2024
Engineering, Design & Approvals
- IESO contract award
- Design and construction is planned
2025 → 2026
Commercial Operation
- Storage system is installed
- Local electrical grid connection occurs along existing lines and connection points
- Remote monitoring
- Annual maintenance
2047
Decomissioning
- Equipment is removed
- Land fully remediated
Project Updates
We are happy to announce that Walker BESS 4, Walker BESS 5, and Walker BESS 6 (the “Walker Projects”), our lithium-ion battery energy storage projects located in Windsor, ON, have been successful in the IESO’s Expedited Long-Term 1 (E-LT1) procurement. We look forward to working with the City of Windsor and the local community throughout the development of the Walker Projects, and as such we are issuing our inaugural newsletter, which highlights the project development and construction roadmap ahead.
Upcoming Meeting
Notice Of Public Community Meeting
Public Community Meeting for Walker BESS 4, 5 & 6
Meeting Date:
September 4th, 2024
Meeting Time:
7:30 to 8:30 PM
Meeting Venue:
Forest Glade Community Centre – Wildwood Room
3215 Forest Glade Dr, Windsor, ON N8R 1W7
Public Community Meeting Summary
Community Meeting Presentation
Past Meeting
Notice Of Public Community Meeting
Public Community Meeting Date and Time
February 8, 2023
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Community Meeting Summary
Community Meeting Presentation
Community and Indigenous Engagement Plan
Walker BESS 4 Inc. has developed a Community and Indigenous Engagement Plan that identifies a strategy for establishing and sustaining a transparent and productive engagement with Community stakeholders and Indigenous Communities. We encourage interested stakeholders to review this document to understand the Walker BESS 6 Project’s community engagement process.
Developer Background
Capstone is generating our low-carbon future, driving the energy transition forward through creative thinking, strong partnerships, and a commitment to quality and integrity in how we do business. A developer, owner, and operator of clean and renewable energy projects across North America, Capstone’s portfolio includes approximately 776 MW gross installed capacity across 30 facilities, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and natural gas cogeneration power plants. Please visit www.capstoneinfrastructure.com for more information.
Wahgoshig Solar FIT5 LP
Wahgoshig Solar FIT 5 LP (“Wahgoshig Solar”), is a partnership formed between Wahgoshig First Nation and Compass Renewable Energy Consulting Inc. Wahgoshig Solar developed, constructed, and operates four 500 kWac/600 kWdc (2.4 MWdc total) ground mount Feed-in Tariff (“FIT”) projects under the former FIT program in Ontario. Wahgoshig Solar engaged Compass to manage the development, permitting and construction of these facilities.
Compass Renewable Energy Consulting Inc. (“Compass”) has been consulting and developing renewable and clean energy projects in Ontario for over 10 years. We have experience across the development lifecycle from pre-screening, contracting, construction, commissioning and operations. We have developed over 100 renewable energy projects in Ontario representing over 100 megawatts (MW) in the last 6 years and supported the development of over 2,000 MWs for our clients.
Compass Greenfield Development (CGD) was born out of Compass Renewable Energy Consulting Inc. CGD leverages our consulting DNA, implementing a proven process, to identify and advance greenfield development opportunities for solar and battery energy storage. We have a long-term strategic perspective coupled with on the ground experience in doing the doing that results in projects getting to commercial operation. All of our stakeholders benefit including landowners, municipalities, Indigenous partners, investors and the public at large.
Frequently Asked Questions
Energy storage fundamentally improves the way we generate, deliver, and consume electricity. Energy storage helps during emergencies like power outages from storms, equipment failures and, accidents. But the game-changing nature of energy storage is its ability to balance power supply and demand instantaneously – within milliseconds – which makes power networks more resilient, efficient, and cleaner than ever before.
BESS systems are considerably smaller footprint compared to other clean technologies such as solar or wind farms. On average, a 25MW BESS system occupies 1 acre of land.
BESS have to apply with municipal, provincial and national permitting and codes and standards. The following is a non-exhaustive list of industry standards our Project will comply with:
- UL 9540 Standard for Energy Storage Systems and Equipment
- UL 9540A (Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems)
- National & Provincial Building Code
- National Fire Code Canada
- Underwriters Laboratories of Canada
- NECB 2017 National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings
- ULC (Underwriters Laboratories of Canada)
- UL 1741 Standard for Inverters, Converters, Controllers, and Interconnections
- UL 1973 Standard for Batteries for Use in Stationary, Vehicle Auxiliary Power and Light Electric Rail (LER)
BESS are certified to UL9540 and UL9540A standards to prevent fire spread and suppression at the cell and the BESS system level. BESS enclosures have built-in fire suppression system (FSS) solutions. The FSS system is composed of smoke detectors, gas detectors and aerosols, whose main function is to prevent fire spread in time when any open flame signal or gas signal appears in the battery system and send out an emergency fire alert signal to the EMS system.
These BESS do not use lead acid batteries, and therefore do not leak.
Mechanical failures include physical damage that could create heat or a fire. Hazards associated with lithium-ion battery energy storage systems are centred on the flammable organic electrolyte and its highly reactive electrodes. However, if the batteries are punctured, there is a risk of electrolytes being exposed to air, which will result in a chemical reaction, leading to thermal runaway and combustion.
Other potentially hazardous wastes would include fire residue, debris, and fire extinguishing agents leading to contamination of soil and underground water via leaching, burying, dissolution, infiltration and runoff. The management of these risks starts at the cell level, with the selection of battery chemistry, and compliance with local AHJs and global certifications. This is where UL9540A certification becomes critical to BESS projects. Any other hazardous leaks will be contained in the enclosure.
BESS systems are subject to third-party certification to ensure they comply with all of the required codes and standards.
BESS facilities have an expected lifespan of 22 years, or more, with equipment replacement and repowering. At the time of decommissioning, the installed components will be removed and reused/recycled, where possible, and the site restored. All removal of equipment will be done per the applicable regulations and manufacturer recommendations. The below summarizes the decommissioning procedure that would be enacted at the end of project life for each component.
BESS – Disconnect all above-ground wirings. Remove all BESS enclosures and support structures.
Medium Voltage (MV) Stations, Substation – Disconnect and remove all electrical equipment. Remove the inverter and associated equipment. Remove high-voltage substation transformer. Remove concrete foundations for MV Stations and substation components.
Access roads and other components – Consult with the property owner to determine if access roads should be left in place for their continued use. If roads are to be removed, the aggregate materials will be excavated by a backhoe/front-end loader, along with any underlying geotextile fabric. Compacted areas restored.
Underground cables – Underground electrical lines running between the inverters and the substation will be removed. All foundation materials will be removed.
Contact Us
It is important to us that Walker BESS 6 be successfully integrated into the City of Windsor and we are seeking to incorporate feedback through Public Community Meetings and this Project Website into the development of this Project.
To submit feedback or send us any questions about the project, please contact us:
Email:
info@walkerenergystorage6.com
By mail:
192 Spadina Ave, Suite 215
Toronto, ON M5T 2C2