A cutting-edge energy storage facility expected to attract international attention will be built in the Harriston industrial park.
Mississauga-based NRStor Inc. purchased a one-acre lot at the corner of John and Hutchison Streets in a sale formally approved by Minto council on Aug. 6.
The facility to be built in Harriston will employ state-of-the-art flywheel technology to store power until it is needed on the grid.
Information provided in report from CAO Bill White at the meeting explained the company’s plans for the lot.
“NRStor Inc. aims to accelerate the commercialization of energy storage technology through the planning and development of energy storage solutions,” White stated. “NRStor Inc. is working with Temporal Power (another Mississauga company), to develop a facility to provide regulation services to the Ontario electricity grid, which enables the grid operator to maintain stability of the system by balancing supply/demand over short time intervals (every few seconds).
“This is part of a new initiative by the Ontario independent electricity system operator (IESO) to pilot new technologies to improve the overall efficiency of the electricity system.”
White explained to council the technology reduces waste because with current technology, energy must be used as soon as it is produced.
“Essentially what they will build on site is the technology to store that energy when it is not needed and put it on the grid when it is needed,” he said.
The facility will house flywheel energy storage systems created by Temporal Power, which are installed in cast-in-place concrete “vaults” which extend about 10 to 15 feet below grade. These and the supporting equipment are housed in a typical fabricated steel building about 50 by 150 feet in size – or 15 per cent of the total lot area.
Construction will begin within a year and is expected to be completed within two years.
White explained that while the project won’t result in significant local employment, “they will be bringing people from around the world here to see it.”
The facility can operate without full-time staff, but will be attended periodically by service personnel, White reported. The report states there is no environmental impact beyond the construction of the building itself and the operation will involve no chemicals, emissions or significant noise pollution.
“The location of the property is relatively prominent in the town’s industrial park,” said White. He added, “One of the main activities associated with the site will be tours for people and firms interested in the technology.”
The municipality has asked the developer to include in the future site plan for the project some landscaped areas, paved parking, concrete walkways, foundation plantings and possibly some native trees in the boulevard “so that the project presents well to the street, and is relatively attractive to people attending the site on tour.”
It is possible a board room will be included in the design, “although that is a corporate decision yet to be made,” the report states.
Deputy mayor Terry Fisk asked if NRStor had any intention of expanding the facility in the future, as the lot they selected did not seem to contain much potential for expansion.
White explained the facility as currently designed covers only 15% of the lot, so some future expansion is possible.
Fisk also asked if the Ministry of the Environment is involved in the approval process for the facility. White said the company has dealt with Westario Power on that end of the project.
Also at the Aug. 6 meeting, council approved the sale of just under one acre of highway commercial property in the Palmerston Industrial Park for $22,380 to Tim and Michelle Thalen.
The parcel will be sold as a serviced lot, which includes roadway, water and sewer services, which the town will have to provide before the end of 2014.
This road was subject to a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment in 2008, and an RFP for engineering design is currently out for bids, with the intention of constructing the road in 2014.
While no details of the type of industry were provided at the meeting, the Thalens are proposing a 2,000 square foot building on the property. A staff report notes the lands are restricted due to minimum distance separation requirements.
Council approved bylaws authorizing the mayor and CAO to sign documents related to closing the Thalen and NRStor Inc. transactions.
