Four Railroads BESS is a proposed stand-alone Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) of up to 350 megawatts (“MW”) in the Municipality of Lakeshore, approximately 1.5 km west of Tilbury. The project will be submitted to the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (“IESO”) request for proposals under the Expedited – Long-term Procurement (“ELTP-1”) process.
It is important to us that Four Railroads BESS be successfully integrated into Lakeshore and we are seeking to incorporate feedback through public community meetings and this Project Website into the development of this Project.
Ontario is entering a period of emerging electricity system needs driven by increasing residential and commercial demand due to the electrification of the automotive sector, growth of the agriculture sector, the retirement of the Pickering nuclear plant and refurbishment of other nuclear-generating plants, and expiring contracts for existing facilities.
In response, the IESO is conducting procurements, including the Expedited Long-Term Request for Proposals (“E-LT1 RFP”), to secure more than 4,000 MW of capacity in Ontario. Facilities that successfully demonstrate their capabilities will be contracted by the end of 2023, with operations starting as early as May 1, 2025.
The Four Railroads BESS project, among other electricity storage sites, will help address emerging global and regional electricity needs for the coming decades.
When Ontario’s electricity grid needs more power (like on the hottest days of the year), the IESO turns to on-demand resources, like energy storage, to support Provincial electricity needs. Decentralized energy storage infrastructure can prevent emergency grid events such as rolling blackouts and help defer more capital-intensive system upgrades that directly impact ratepayers. Ideally, BESS sites are located near electricity substations or 3-phase power lines to improve overall efficiencies.
Although energy storage comes in different shapes and sizes, the Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) is the fastest emerging technology in North America and is planned to be deployed in Tecumseh and Lakeshore with the Four Railroads BESS Project.
Four Railroads BESS is a proposed 350 megawatt (“MW”) stand-alone battery storage project located in the Municipality of Lakeshore under development by Capstone Infrastructure Corporation. This infrastructure project will bring significant investment and local benefits including employment, lease payments and capital spending in the local economy.
Capstone Infrastructure Corporation was approved by the IESO among the 55 Qualified Applicants with the experience and capabilities to successfully develop, construct, and operate facilities acquired through these procurements.
The Four Railroads BESS project will consist of battery cells connected in stacks and installed inside an enclosed area, like a shipping container or a small enclosure. The enclosed area will also house the balance-of-plant equipment such as an inverter, a battery management system, and a dedicated HVAC unit for proper ventilation. The battery packs feed inverters that connect to a transformer tied to the power grid. The project will also have a roughly 20-foot wide private access road connecting the site to a public roadway surrounding the project.
The Four RailroadsBESS project will comply with all regulatory bodies permitting requirements including the Electrical Safety Authority, the Municipalities of Tecumseh and Lakeshore, and the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks.
The Four Railroads BESS project will use dedicated HVAC systems to remain well-ventilated to keep the batteries at the optimal operating temperature. Additionally, as part of the project’s proposed Community Engagement activities, Capstone Infrastructure will sponsor certified fire safety training for fire department personnel.
The Four Railroads BESS project will have restricted access to prevent any health and safety incidents and be monitored 24×7 through a secure remote-monitoring facility.
The West of Chatham region has been identified as an area that can benefit from new electricity capacity based on IESO’s guidance. Currently, a transmission-level, 230kV circuit point connection in the Municipality of Lakeshore is being evaluated for the Four Railroads BESS.
There are various economic and non-economic community benefits associated with Four Railroads BESS project, a proposed key energy infrastructure project located in the Municipality of Lakeshore. The Four Railroads BESS project will provide power to meet growing regional demand in the area, lease revenues for local landowners, additional property taxes, and economic activity within Lakeshore.
Creation of high-skilled jobs in construction – civil works, mechanical installation, electrical connection, landscaping.
Property tax benefits, diversified income stream for landowners, especially on under-utilized land.
The development of Four Railroads BESS will serve the larger electrical resiliency requirements of the area.
If the project is awarded a contract by the IESO
IESO Procurement & Initial Consultation
Environmental Assessment, Permitting, Engineering, Procurement & Tender
Construction & Commissioning
Operations Extension or Decommissioning
January 23, 2023
6 – 7:30 pm
Capstone Infrastructure has developed a Community and Indigenous Engagement Plan that identifies a strategy for establishing and sustaining a transparent and productive engagement with Community stakeholders and Indigenous Communities. We encourage interested stakeholders to review this document to understand the Four Railroads BESS project’s community engagement process.
Capstone is generating our low-carbon future, driving the energy transition forward through creative thinking, strong partnerships, and a commitment to quality and integrity in how we do business. A developer, owner, and operator of clean and renewable energy projects across North America, Capstone’s portfolio includes approximately 774 MW gross installed capacity across 29 facilities, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and natural gas cogeneration power plants. Please visit www.capstoneinfrastructure.com for more information.
Energy storage fundamentally improves the way we generate, deliver, and consume electricity. Energy storage helps during emergencies like power outages from storms, equipment failures and, accidents. But the game-changing nature of energy storage is its ability to balance power supply and demand instantaneously – within milliseconds – which makes power networks more resilient, efficient, and cleaner than ever before.
BESS systems are considerably smaller footprint compared to other clean technologies such as solar or wind farms. On average, a 25MW BESS system occupies 1 acre of land.
BESS systems are considerably smaller footprint compared to other clean technologies such as solar or wind farms. On average, a 25MW BESS system occupies 1 acre of land.
What accredited safety standards will the BESS comply with?
BESS have to apply with municipal, provincial and national permitting and codes and standards. The following is a non-exhaustive list of industry standards our Project will comply with:
BESS are certified to UL9540 and UL9540A standards to prevent fire spread and suppression at the cell and the BESS system level. BESS enclosures have built-in fire suppression system (FSS) solutions. The FSS system is composed of smoke detectors, gas detectors and aerosols, whose main function is to prevent fire spread in time when any open flame signal or gas signal appears in the battery system and send out an emergency fire alert signal to the EMS system.
These BESS do not use lead acid batteries, and therefore do not leak.
Mechanical failures include physical damage that could create heat or a fire. Hazards associated with lithium-ion battery energy storage systems are centred on the flammable organic electrolyte and its highly reactive electrodes. However, if the batteries are punctured, there is a risk of electrolytes being exposed to air, which will result in a chemical reaction, leading to thermal runaway and combustion.
Other potentially hazardous wastes would include fire residue, debris, and fire extinguishing agents leading to contamination of soil and underground water via leaching, burying, dissolution, infiltration and runoff. The management of these risks starts at the cell level, with the selection of battery chemistry, and compliance with local AHJs and global certifications. This is where UL9540A certification becomes critical to BESS projects. Any other hazardous leaks will be contained in the enclosure.
BESS systems are subject to third-party certification to ensure they comply with all of the required codes and standards.
BESS facilities have an expected lifespan of 22 years, or more, with equipment replacement and repowering. At the time of decommissioning, the installed components will be removed and reused/recycled, where possible, and the site restored. All removal of equipment will be done per the applicable regulations and manufacturer recommendations. The below summarizes the decommissioning procedure that would be enacted at the end of project life for each component.
BESS – Disconnect all above-ground wirings. Remove all BESS enclosures and support structures.
Medium Voltage (MV) Stations, Substation – Disconnect and remove all electrical equipment. Remove the inverter and associated equipment. Remove high-voltage substation transformer. Remove concrete foundations for MV Stations and substation components.
Access roads and other components – Consult with the property owner to determine if access roads should be left in place for their continued use. If roads are to be removed, the aggregate materials will be excavated by a backhoe/front-end loader, along with any underlying geotextile fabric. Compacted areas restored.
Underground cables – Underground electrical lines running between the inverters and the substation will be removed. All foundation materials will be removed.
Four Railroads BESS is a proposed stand-alone Battery Energy Storage System (“BESS”) of up to 350 megawatts (“MW”) in the Municipality of Lakeshore.
Contact Us
projects@capstoneinfra.com
1-888-747-1323
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155 Wellington St. W., Suite 2930
Toronto, ON M5V 3H1
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