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The province’s first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) is officially active following a joint announcement by SaskPower, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the federal government.
Located at SaskPower’s Fleet Street substation in Regina, BESS provides support to the province’s power grid and contributes to SaskPower’s efforts toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
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A statement issued by SaskPower on Wednesday says BESS has the capacity to provide 20 megawatts of power to the grid — enough to power up to 20,000 homes for one hour.
“The Battery Energy Storage System will improve the management of renewable energy in Saskatchewan by balancing the power system during peak demand periods,” said a statement from Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal, who’s also responsible for Prairie and Northern economic development in Canada. “With the new system, Saskatchewanians will now have access to more reliable energy while polluting less.”
The $34-million project was partially funded by the Government of Canada, which contributed around $13 million.
BESS has the ability to respond quicker to short-term power fluctuations than some conventional generators that are currently in use. During high-demand times, BESS can be used to balance out the power system and support other options for power generation like wind and solar.
“The addition of battery storage will enable SaskPower to better respond to the fluctuating demands of our electrical grid,” said Minister Responsible for SaskPower Dustin Duncan in the statement. “By storing surplus renewable energy until it’s needed, this facility will help SaskPower reduce carbon emissions while keeping power rates as low as possible.”
Saskatchewan has stated an objective of reaching net-zero by 2050 — 15 years after the country’s goal of 2035.
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