Battery storage facility proposed near Frank Lake

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A Calgary-based firm is proposing to construct a battery storage facility close to Excessive River, however close by residents say the challenge must be rejected by the Alberta Utilities Fee (AUC) as a result of its proximity to a wetland acknowledged as an Essential Chook Space.

Enfinite plans to submit a proposal this spring to the AUC for a 100-megawatt facility on land close to Frank Lake, east of Excessive River. Lithium-phosphate batteries can be contained in 105 sea cans, with the ability having a complete footprint of 4 hectares. 

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Taylor Smith, Enfinite’s vp of company technique, says Alberta’s want for extra power storage was highlighted in January, when the province confronted grid alerts and the Alberta Electrical Methods Operator urged Albertans to preserve energy.

“This facility would act as a contingency to assist for sudden provide losses,” stated Smith.

Key to the proposed location is the proximity of a substation roughly a kilometre away, he stated. The primary location Enfinite checked out would have required a further 15 kilometres of transmission line.

“We wish to reduce the quantity of transmission line that may have been added,” stated Smith, who declined to reveal the challenge challenge.

Whereas some power storage tasks additionally constructed alongside photo voltaic panels or wind generators, this facility wouldn’t embrace both.

To assist stop groundwater leakage, beneath the ocean cans can be a gravel pad and containment models, which may maintain 1.5 occasions the quantity of liquid inside a battery.

Enfinite, which at present has 9 power storage amenities in Alberta totalling 180 megawatts, will submit in depth environmental research as a part of its Alberta Utilities Fee utility, stated Smith.

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Smith says Enfinite’s consultations have gone past what’s required by the AUC, which mandates that notification is supplied to any residents residing inside 800 metres of the ability. The corporate has offered to Foothills County council and held conferences with county workers, been “fairly lively” in responding to native residents’ questions, and held an open home not too long ago on the public’s request, he stated.

“We’re hoping that we will work to supply extra details about the ability and if the challenge goes by means of to work with them to be a very good company neighbour and to supply consolation that the ability is not going to have any antagonistic impacts to the close by residents or the surroundings that it’s working in,” stated Smith.

Amy Marcotte, who has began a Fb group against the battery storage facility, stated her essential concern is how shut the proposed challenge can be to Frank Lake, acknowledged as one in all Canada’s Essential Chook Areas in addition to one of many nation’s Key Biodiversity Areas.

“Battery storage has many, if no more, dangers then a photo voltaic challenge, they usually need this proper beside this space. That is unacceptable, and (is) fueling rural residents’ anger with some of these tasks, (whether or not) or not it’s photo voltaic, wind, (or) battery,” stated Marcotte in an e-mail to Postmedia. “These corporations simply are available and don’t pay attention and simply do as they please, all for cash.”

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Marcotte stated she was additionally concerned in stopping a proposed 600-hectare photo voltaic challenge within the Excessive River space from being constructed. Final 12 months, the Alberta Utilities Fee rejected the Foothills Photo voltaic Venture, citing potential unfavourable results on chook populations. 

Any firm planning to construct an industrial challenge, as Marcotte known as the battery storage facility, “proper beside this internationally acknowledged and delicate magnificence goes to have a struggle on their fingers with us,” stated Marcotte, a resident of Blackie, a hamlet east of Excessive River. 

A spokesperson for Geese Limitless Canada, which is concerned within the conservation administration of Frank Lake, informed Postmedia the wetlands safety group is conscious of the battery storage challenge however that it will be “untimely” to remark as a result of Geese Limitless has but to see any detailed plans or environmental assessments. 

Frank Lake gives worthwhile wildlife habitat and “leisure worth” to the encircling neighborhood, stated the Geese Limitless spokesperson in an e-mail.

In response to the IBA Canada web site, Frank Lake helps important numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds throughout each spring and fall migration, and is taken into account crucial wetland in southwestern Alberta for breeding water birds. 

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