Developing large-scale energy storage facilities will be necessary if Ontario is serious about making wind, solar and other renewables a significant portion of the province’s power mix, says one of Canada’s largest power-system developers.
Brookfield Renewable Power Inc., a unit of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., is among private-sector developers hoping to build hydroelectric pumped storage facilities in Ontario.
“On paper it’s a no-brainer, which is why we’re pursuing this,” said Stéphane Landry, senior vice-president of strategy and market development for Brookfield. He said Brookfield has looked at many sites in the province and has narrowed them down to a “handful” of feasible projects, which need to be larger than 300 megawatts and relatively close to existing and planned transmission corridors to be economical.
