The provincial government announced on Thursday (May 9) that Ontario’s electricity system operator has secured new power supply from 10 battery storage facilities and 3 natural gas and biogas facilities, which should be sufficient to meet Ontario’s needs into the 2030s.
The independent electricity system operator stated that Ontario can add 4,000 megawatts of capacity to the grid, enough to power the city of Toronto, which is facing a growing demand for electricity.
Minister of Energy Todd Smith said that Ontario’s new projects, such as three electric vehicle battery factories, underscore the importance of ensuring a stable power supply.
“We have once again broken records, completing the largest battery storage procurement in Canadian history, and ensuring power for the next major international investment,” he said.
The electricity system operator noted that the government’s announcement on Thursday means that the province will have sufficient power in the coming decade.
New 20-year power supply contracts will be effective between 2026 and 2028.
The contracts include 1,784 megawatts of battery storage projects, which can charge during off-peak hours and inject energy into the grid when needed, including a 390-megawatt battery storage system in eastern Ontario, which the government expects to be the largest energy storage facility ever procured in Canadian history.