Powering Grid Modernization with Storage

Ontario is on the cusp of major grid transformation as electrification, decarbonization and economic growth put pressure on the electricity system to change and expand. In Ontario alone, demand is forecasted to increase by two per cent per year over the next 20 years. Electricity system operators worldwide are faced with the same challenges and are turning to new and innovative technologies, like energy storage, to help meet the world’s evolving energy needs.

With traditional resources, like nuclear, hydro and fossil fuels, energy must be used as it is made, requiring generators to manage their output in real-time to match demand. With storage, energy can be saved for when it is needed, giving system operators access to a flexible resource while paving the way for a more efficient and sustainable electricity system.

The Benefits of Storage

There are many types of energy storage that charge and discharge energy in different ways, including batteries, compressed air and flywheels among others. Regardless of the type, all storage technologies operate on the same general principle, charging up when electricity demand and costs are low and discharging when it’s needed most. Other benefits, include:

• Improving electricity system reliability by saving surplus energy until it is needed most
• Supporting the integration of renewable resources, like wind and solar, by smoothing out fluctuations in their power output caused by unpredictable weather patterns
• Spurring economic development, job creation, Indigenous partnerships and alignment with community energy and climate change objectives
• Providing back-up power to communities, homes and businesses during emergencies

Source: Ontario Energy Board