SolarBank Corporation (previously Abundant Solar Energy Inc.) is proposing a Lithium Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at 219 Peggs Mountain Road in Armour Township.
Since its initial proposal was presented to the Township in 2022, the company is in the midst of an Official Plan and Zoning Amendment as well as a site plan approval for the project.
The municipality received a comprehensive report on the project in December 2024, which is available on the township webpage for public review and further engagement. You can find the public notice link and supporting documents HERE.
SolarBank has secured IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator) approval to establish a 4.99 MW in the township. The IESO is the Crown Corporation responsible for operating the electricity market and directing the operation of the bulk electrical system in the province of Ontario.
As part of an overall strategy to address the steadily increasing demand for electricity throughout Ontario, especially with the retirement of the Pickering nuclear plant, BESS systems are recognized as successful and stable methods of collecting power by charging the system at low peak periods (overnight) and discharging the stored power back into the grid.
BESS systems are said to be a versatile and rapid response means for providing stability to the grid for up to four hours of continuous supply to augment power demands. According to the IESO, with low greenhouse emissions, BESS supports a cleaner energy mix by adding further capacity to meet the gap in a secure supply of electricity.
The IESO adds that with heat being a byproduct of its operation, a number of safety precautions are built into the system and are fully monitored and strictly maintained to ensure that potential hazards are fully contained and mitigated. It says the system is closely and continuously monitored by Advanced Battery Management Systems (BMS), to ensure compliance with strict temperature controls and includes numerous safety features to prevent thermal runaway fires.
While community members have expressed safety concerns, Fire Chief Joe Readman has been monitoring the proposed project and providing advice on safety concerns. Solarbank has outlined a number of overlapping precautions for thermal protection, including consultation with third-party BESS experts and Fire & Risk Alliance, a fire engineering firm that supports a wide range of industries and clients.
Fire training for local fire departments would also be provided upon completion of construction.
If approved, SolarBank will lease the site until 2047. The BESS will operate for approximately twenty years. Amour Township has also been reviewing plans for the decommissioning of the site.
Charlene Watt, Deputy Clerk, Township of Armour, has been encouraging public engagement with regard to the project.
The Township of Armour still has to approve the Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment submissions before reviewing the proposed site plan.
A Consent Application to the Parry Sound Planning Board is also being prepared by SolarBank. The company is hoping to have the system operational by 2027.
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