SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE), announced last week the signing of a 10-year agreement with Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator for the supply 5 megawatts (20 MWh) of battery storage.
The project will use vanadium redox flow battery technology from a leader in the sector; Imergy.
Flow batteries utilise liquid solutions in two separate tanks separated by a membrane that form the positive and negative side of the battery. Pumping the solutions in one direction charges the battery and reversing the flow discharges it.
In May this year, SunEdison announced an intention to purchase up to 1,000 vanadium flow batteries from Imergy.
Imergy is using an electrolyte using recycled vanadium that has no cycling limitations and does not degrade over time. Imergy states its flow batteries can operate in ambient temperatures of -20C to +55C and provides flexible charging operation with no impact on life or system efficiency.
“The Ontario IESO is the real winner in this latest collaboration between SunEdison and Imergy,” said Bill Watkins , Imergy’s chief executive officer. “By combining SunEdison’s renewable energy project development expertise with Imergy’s vanadium flow battery technology, Ontario will get a durable and efficient energy storage system.”
The project is one of several that will support mains grid reliability in Ontario by providing quick response capacity and operational flexibility said Bruce Campbell , Ontario IESO’s president and CEO.
Another benefit of utility scale energy storage is it can also enable more solar power and wind farm generated electricity be incorporated into the energy mix.
The Ontario project is slated to start in 2017 and be completed in the same year.
In other recent SunEdison news, the company announced that it has agreed to sell 333 megawatts of wind-power assets to Terra Nova Renewable Partners in a deal SunEdison says will provide good value to its shareholders and enhance the company’s financial strength and flexibility.
The 333MW consists of two projects – the 185 megawatt Bingham wind farm and 148 megawatt Oakfield wind farm, both located in the U.S. state of Maine. Oakfield wind farm is the largest wind power facility in New England . Further details regarding the deal can be viewed here.
