Editor,
I am sure, by now, your readers are getting bored with me Jousting with SGB folk.
Pat Maloney’s arguments have been rehashed and rebutted by me and others many times. But I will try once more to provide the other point of view in hopes that those who may still be fence sitting about OPS will have a more complete understanding.
Maloney presents a 10 point argument. I offer a counterpoint.
Advantages of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
1. Can be built anywhere
A common NIMBY argument. But not wise to locate it in forested areas (Forest fire risk) or flood plain lands or shore lines (flood risk) or near residential housing or schools or hospitals or on productive farm land
2. Constructed in less than a year
Maybe. No one, so far has stepped up with the money, to buy the land, get the zoning and construction permits, get approvals for power lines to feed the site.
These are not Meaford or Ontario taxpayer’s responsibility.
SGB is not recommending a developer or any place to locate it.
OPS has secured both already.
3. High and rapidly improving efficiencies
Not true.
Battery efficiency peaks on day one and drops every year.
Temperature and humidity extremes decrease the efficiency a lot.
No lithium battery provider warrants more than 10 years.
How long do your batteries last?
4. Lower costs, decreasing annually
Not over the long term
OPS has a 50-100 year amortization, Batteries have a 10 year life span.
The cost of charging the batteries goes up every year.
Electric rates (tier 1, the lowest rate) have increased 240% from 2005 to 2025
In 2005 tier 1 was $.05/kwh. 2025 is $.12/kWh
Does anyone think this trend will decrease?
5. Instant switching between storage and supply modes
Pumps can be switched on and off automatically also.
6. No massive upfront expenses: investments are incremental.
The provider has significant upfront expenses.
They are still not cheap and the provider will pass the costs to the ratepayers over a much smaller time frame.
7. Systems are easily replaced or updated
Yes. batteries are not a long term solution. Disposal every 10 years is an issue.
How many times do you want to buy this solution? Once in a lifetime or every decade.
8. Far fewer construction challenges compared to pumped storage
Suggest a location that is free of NIMBYism and not subject the constraints of point 1 above.
9. Significantly reduced environmental and water risks
You hope. Until a disaster strikes. Remember the fire at Johnny B’s. We had no water for days.
10. Compliments provincial bill 5 and federal bill C-5, with minimal regulatory hurdles
Are you sure about that ? Governments change and change their policies often.
SGB never talks about disadvantages of battery grid storage. Or of doing nothing to stabilize the power grid.
- All the money to buy a battery solution goes to USA or China… nothing to Ontario or Canada suppliers. In times of trade wars and global instability, is SGB really against home grown solutions that isolates Canada and Ontario from the whims of US Trump, Musk and China XI.
- There would be no annual compensation and other benefits to Meaford (millions/year) to reduce local taxes. SGB does not seem to care about rising taxes and local infrastructure improvements.
- Business opportunities for local contractors or suppliers would be very limited. SGB has not suggested where it would be located or tied into the grid. I suspect they don’t want any changes in Meaford.
- Less jobs (or maybe no local jobs) for ongoing operations.
- Where does energy come from for charging the battery on a daily basis. Does the source have available capacity (megabytes of surplus) now or in a year as Maloney thinks. Sadly, Solar and Wind farms are not popular in our county… nimbyism rules.
- Yes, grid storage and stability is essential. In my location, just on the edge of Meaford, I have had 46 power outages, of varying duration, in the past 3+ years. That is not acceptable. And, I don’t want to compound the climate problems by using a propane generator.
- Grid storage would help a lot to reduce our dependence on gas driven peak load generators that provide 25-35% of our electricity in Ontario. We need that to stop to help reduce co2 affects on climate
Yes, I do support the OPS project for its positive impacts. I much prefer a long term solution, using proven technologies and well known and defined impacts. We need a local solution we can count on.
Dave MacDougall, Meaford
