Calgary: TransAlta Corporation announced June 30 that it has been awarded $250,000 from Alberta Innovates – Energy & Environment Solutions (AI-EES) to help launch Alberta’s first large-scale commercial energy storage project.
TransAlta will use commercial-scale lithium-ion batteries to reduce energy costs for the customer. Five commercial-scale Tesla Powerpack batteries, each about the size of a household fridge, will be installed in a medium-sized building, such as a large grocery store, apartment block, post-secondary institution building or small office tower.
The project should be running in late 2016. More than half of the total project costs will be covered by TransAlta as part of its commitment to the demonstration project.
AI-EES’s Next Generation Energy Storage Technologies initiative is an international competition seeking energy storage technologies with the highest potential for Alberta. AI-EES received more than 50 proposals.
“Clean power generation is a critical challenge for Alberta. Our goal is to have 20 per cent electricity generation from renewable energy in 2030. These energy storage projects will be instrumental in harnessing Alberta’s renewable resources and integrating them on the electricity grid affordably and efficiently,” said Dr. Mark Summers, Director of Renewable Energy for AI-EES.