Dear Editor,
We are writing in response to Mike McTaggert’s letter published December 7, 2023. Mr. McTaggert touches on a number of points in his letter, and we offer the following additional thoughts.
Regarding the project’s inlet and outlet ports, they have been designed such that the inlet and exit velocities of water flow in front of the screens, when both pumping and generating, is kept under 0.2 m/s. This is approximately the same speed as the existing natural currents in the area. The ports are raised off the bed of Georgian Bay and the flow is directed to be horizontal such that it will not scour the lake-bed or contribute to local water turbidity. We have and will continue to undertake studies to test the proposed design, including computer modelling and sediment mapping. This modelling is an important part of our studies and will help to confirm that water flow patterns will avoid creating turbidity as a result of Project operation. These studies are expected to be completed in the coming months. The results, which will be available for public review and feedback, will be included in the reports that will be complied as part of the federal impact assessment process.
As stated in our November 30 letter, we agree, batteries do have an important role in Ontario’s future electricity system. Earlier this year, the Independent Electricity System Operator also recognized their significance in Ontario’s electricity system when they announced procurement of seven new battery storage projects in the province, with a total capacity of 739 megawatts. As Ontario continues to transition to a cleaner electricity grid, we believe diversity in storage technologies is prudent.
A major aspect that differentiates our proposed project from battery storage projects, is that Ontario Pumped Storage represents a made-in-Ontario solution – a project that will be designed, engineered, and built by a domestic supply chain. By relying on Ontario’s domestic construction and hydro industries to advance the project, Ontario is not reliant on uncertain global supply chains, thereby lowering any geopolitical risks. Ontario Pumped Storage is a multi-billion-dollar construction project that invests in Canadian jobs and materials – a project that will create 1,000 local, unionized jobs during construction. We are committed to hiring and buying local to create well-paying jobs and increase spending in the province.
We believe that pumped hydro storage projects will continue to play a dominant role in electricity systems across the globe. Over 127,000 megawatts of pumped storage capacity exists worldwide today, accounting for 95 per cent of utility scale storage globally. There are over 100 pumped storage projects under development or in construction as more countries embrace this tried-and-true technology to meet their climate goals. Importantly, a large proportion of the pumped storage facilities under construction at this moment are in China – which also possesses the vast majority of the global supply chain for lithium-Ion battery technology and would have access to this as an alternative.
Pumped storage offers the capability to provide long duration storage volumes at the lowest lifetime cost. We anticipate that Ontario Pumped Storage will have a lifespan of 80+ years, pending refurbishment after about 50 years. In comparison, battery storage projects typically have a lifespan of 10 to 20 years – this combined with shorter operating periods (~ 4 hours) and smaller storage volumes contribute to a higher lifetime cost.
Ontario Pumped Storage keeps jobs at home, invests in the people of Ontario, bolsters safe and reliable domestic supply chains and provides Ontario with the long duration storage option it needs to realize a future emission-free electricity system.
Respectfully,
John Mikkelsen, P.Eng. M.A.Sc.
TC Energy
