| Abstract | Canada is in the enviable position of being relatively rich in natural resources and having one of the cleanest, least expensive, and most reliable electricity grids in the world. However, a decrease in infrastructure investments in the 1990’s along with an increase in the integration of renewables, a rise in smart grid technologies, and changes in demand and policies at a national and provincial level have created an increased awareness that fundamental changes in the way we build, own, and operate our electricity systems may berequired. Many studies, organizations and experts worldwide have concluded that these changes provide a perfect opportunity for energy storage (ES) technologies to demonstrate their value in supporting energy security and climate change goals, as well as creating a more integrated and optimized energy system. However,few comprehensive studies exist at a national or provincial level that comprehensively address the marketpotential and costs and benefits, as well as economic and environmental impacts of significant ES utilizationgiven the complexities of the analysis and the marketplace.
Understanding the potential value of ES may help provide cost effective solutions for secure and reliable electric grids, and may also provide opportunities as an economic engine to drive the global competitiveness of Canadian energy products and home-grown expertise. However, most studies undertaken to date have reviewed ES on a project-by-project basis, which makes it difficult to ascertain the full value and costs of implementing the technology. It is within this context that the NRC, through its Energy Storage for Grid Security and Modernization Program (more recently the Advanced Clean Energy Program), has undertaken the development of a Canadian Energy Storage Study with support and input from NRCan’s Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD), strategic partners and consultants, stakeholders across the value chain, andan expert advisory board. This study, comprised of three pillars of analysis, is intended to provide a neutral andindependent analysis jurisdiction by jurisdiction across Canada that outlines the potential costs and benefits of the adoption of ES technologies. |
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