Alberta’s first utility scale battery storage system called Tesla WindCharger has just become operational, with the batteries able to charge up in just two hours garnering energy from TransAlta’s 66MW Summerview II wind farm, TeslaNorth is reporting.
Wind, solar and hydroelectric company TransAlta Renewables purchased the project from power generation and distribution player TransAlta Corporation, its majority shareholder. TransAlta will pay a fixed monthly charge for the right of operation and dispatch of the battery in the Alberta market.
Congratulations to @TransAlta for its Commercial Operation of WindCharger, Alberta’s First Utility Scale Battery Storage … https://t.co/LWRMcXBBcm #EnergyStorage
— EnergyStorage Canada (@EnergystorageON)
“We want to thank Tesla for working with us on this exciting project,” TransAlta Renewables president John Kousinioris, said.
“The completion of the WindCharger project is an important milestone as we progress towards our goal of providing clean, reliable and low-cost energy solutions to our customers,” Kousinioris said, adding that the technology shows “strong commercial potential”.
A few weeks back, $10 billion CAD infrastructure investment plan was unveiled by Canada’s national government, which was warmly welcomed by Energy Storage Canada for its explicit mention of support for renewable energy and energy storage projects.
