TC Energy: Saddlebrook Solar and Storage

PROJECT 19

Saddlebrook Solar and Storage

The proposed project will consist of a solar generating facility in conjunction with a flow battery energy storage system. The solar generating facility will use state-of-the-art bifacial solar panels to generate energy. As part of a recent partnership with Lockheed Martin, the project will utilize Lockheed Martin’s GridStar® Flow Energy Storage System, allowing for long-duration energy storage. Having been awarded a funding contribution by Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) through their BEST Challenge, the innovative pilot project is intended to demonstrate the potential to reduce GHG emissions in Alberta and secure the province’s success in a lower carbon economy.

The project will be located entirely on TC Energy owned land at the Saddlebrook Industrial Park located near Aldersyde, Alberta. The initial pilot phase will consist of a 10-megawatt (MWac) utility scale solar facility, combined with a utility-scale (5 MWac, 40 MWh) energy storage facility utilizing the GridStar® Flow Energy Storage System technology. This phase is expected to provide enough emission-free electricity to power approximately 3,000 homes. In addition, the system will offer up to 5 MW of energy storage for up to eight hours, capable of providing clean energy to the Alberta grid even when the sun isn’t shining.

By utilizing the available vacant land on the project site, the project has the capability to expand in subsequent phases up to 95 MW of solar generation, along with additional energy storage capacity.

The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) would like to thank all electric utilities participating in this year’s Centre of Excellence. This year, we have the privilege to welcome 19 projects from a total of 14 utilities across Canada.

During these unprecedented times, members of the Canadian Electricity Association have continued to keep the lights on and provide us the power to persevere through the new challenges we are currently facing. And in doing so, utilities have demonstrated ingenuity, creativity and transformed how we think about the electricity sector today, creating economic, social and environmental benefits for all Canadians. The Centre of Excellence is a platform to celebrate game-changing ideas in the electric utility space, that bring us closer to our collective goal of achieving net-zero by 2050. Thank you for demonstrating innovation excellence in our industry.

electricity.ca | electricite.ca    Coe 2020: Electricity Innovation • Canadian Electricity association