Photo by Whitehorse Star
Yukon Energy president Andrew Hall
Site announced for battery storage facility
Yukon Energy has chosen a piece of land near the intersection of the Robert Service Way and the Alaska Highway as the site for its new battery storage facility.
Yukon Energy has chosen a piece of land near the intersection of the Robert Service Way and the Alaska Highway as the site for its new battery storage facility.
The Crown corporation made the announcement this morning.
Yukon Energy had initially identified three possible sites but eliminated the site along the North Klondike Highway near Whitehorse in December because of public opposition.
The battery will be located on leased settlement land owned by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.
The cost of the project is estimated at $31 million, with the federal government contributing $16.5 million and Yukon Energy contributing up to $14.5 million.
The intent is to have the battery operational by the end of next year. It will be the largest storage battery North of 60 and among the largest in Canada.
It’s expected the battery will displace 20,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over its 20-year life.
The battery system will provide an additional seven megawatts of capacity, and will be able to store 40 hours of energy, meaning the battery could supply seven megawatts for just shy of six hours.
The battery will be charged during off-peak hours and used during the period of peak demand to reduce the need for generation by diesel and natural gas.
Should there be a loss of generation on the system, power from the battery would be available immediately with the flick of a switch.
The battery is part of Yukon Energy’s 10-Year Renewable Electricity Plan.
A steering committee of representatives from the corporation, the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council was formed last year to assess location options and opportunities to provide benefits from the project to the two First Nations.
The corporation has already issued a request for proposals for the supply of the battery.
Yukon Energy president Andrew Hall said this morning installation will occur next year, though there may be some site preparation this year.
There were a number of factors behind the selection of the site, including aesthetics, Hall explained.
He said the battery complex will not be visible from the adjacent roadways, whereas it would have been visible at the site across from Yukon Energy owned by the Ta’an.
“Yukon Energy is firmly committed to establishing mutually-beneficial and strategic partnerships with First Nations governments and development corporations to build Yukon’s clean energy future,” Hall said in a press release.
“I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, and to each of their representatives, for collaborating with us on the battery project.”
Yukon Energy will be providing the two local First Nations with opportunities to invest in the project, just as it did with the LNG facility, he explained.
Both Kwanlin Dün Chief Doris Bill and Ta’an Chief Kristina Kane offered words of support for the battery project and the opportunities to participate in it.
“Our development corporation, Chu Niìkwän’s investment in this project, will lead to increased opportunities for Kwanlin Dün First Nation citizens and improve access to clean stable electricity for all Yukoners,” said Bill.
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Comments (26)
Up 4 Down 4
Groucho d'North on Feb 28, 2021 at 12:03 pm
I'd like to see our next government demonstrate a desire to undertake research into nuclear power. I get the sense today that they are afraid of scaring the electorate because of nuke history, and by the comments below, many cannot understand basic battery storage benefits so perhaps their fears about nuclear power are valid.
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx
Up 3 Down 2
drum on Feb 28, 2021 at 11:38 am
Brad Cathers was just taking direction from his constituents - who he listens to.
Up 9 Down 2
NickyB on Feb 26, 2021 at 3:28 pm
They could have used that money for a pump and pipe to move water to Fish Lake 450 meters higher 6 km away, and store far more energy. There's already hydro generation from the lake. Not only that, it would create jobs for Canadians and last far longer than 20 years.
A pumped storage system would still be saving energy long after those batteries, wind turbines, and soar panels are nothing but a pile of toxic waste we will have to deal with.
Up 14 Down 7
Damage Control Mode - Please, Canada has sustained a brain bleed: on Feb 26, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Totally agree with NickyB - You are complicit with the atrocity of Liberal hypocrisy as a vote for Liberals is anti-democracy. If ever there was a cause for “Cancel Culture” (although I don’t condone it) it is Justin Trudeau, Sandy Silver, and the Liberal groupies!
Not literally, but absolutely figuratively, these governments need to yanked out of their offices, decimated, and relegated by way of election to Neverland where they can be contented with their destructive fantasies forever trapped within their own delusions where they cannot cause any more damage in the real world.
Up 8 Down 7
Lynx on Feb 26, 2021 at 11:21 am
It should have been north of the city on the Mayo road but Brad Cathers who opposes any and all development in his riding along with his merry band of NIMBYS made sure that didn't happen! When it comes to other places though, Cathers would be the first one to put in quarries, batteries, etc.
Up 18 Down 3
Vern Schlimbesser on Feb 26, 2021 at 6:01 am
So instead of North of the City (where it would be downwind for 90% of the year), it is now going to be beside the runway, next to one of the only two access routes to the city, and upwind of the largest part of the population.
The winners are the lady who complained she didn't want it near her, and the First Nation who gets a few million in bribe (er...rent).
The losers, if (when) there is any accident are everyone else. Evacuation routes from the City will be cut at least in half, and NO aircraft will be able to arrive or depart until it's over. It is immediately adjacent to the runway!
The question is will there be an accident? A fire, explosion, some kind of battery runaway. They will reassure you at the start of a project, and console you when it does. But it was avoidable, remember that.
Up 14 Down 2
NickyB on Feb 25, 2021 at 5:36 pm
What sort of person thinks it's a good idea to use energy storage batteries manufactured in Chinese factories that spew toxic coal fuel pollution into the air and water, and across the land? How is it a good idea to use these batteries made from raw materials mined by child slave labor in Africa and Asia? Who is gullible and naive enough to believe this is somehow "Clean & Green" compared with LNG produced by Canadians in a country with the most progressive and stringent environmental and human rights regulations in the world?
Those who voted for LIBgovs promoting this insanity, are complicit in those environmental and human rights atrocities, and they are personally responsible for our ever increasing electricity bills. Someone has to pay for this foolishness and it's passed on to Yukoners in our power bills.
Einstein wisely observed that insanity is making the same mistakes again and again while expecting different results. Think about that when you vote later this year, it's not too late to stop this toxic battery insanity.
Up 8 Down 3
North_of_60 on Feb 25, 2021 at 3:28 pm
As [battery storage] projects proliferate, driven by demand for solutions to integrate intermittent renewables into grid operations and to offset the need for fossil fuels, the industry is being forced to acknowledge that fires, most of them linked to lithium-ion batteries, are occurring with troubling frequency.
https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/burning-concern-energy-storage-industry-battles-battery-fires-51900636
Up 15 Down 5
Groucho d'North on Feb 25, 2021 at 11:35 am
@Crunch
I see parallels of the former Wynn Liberal Ontario government and their energy problems compared to what we are now witnessing here in the Yukon with our energy sector. How many of those former Ontario Liberal government staff are now working for YG?
Up 40 Down 5
Crunch on Feb 24, 2021 at 9:11 am
How does it feel to have the government in power in Yukon playing politics with YOUR electrical rates and taking money out of YOUR pocket to corral votes in the up coming election? Any thinking person should be sending a clear message that this is not acceptable.
Up 24 Down 6
Patti Eyre on Feb 23, 2021 at 6:30 pm
So much for the LNG plant that David Morrison, then big dog for Yukon Energy, said would solve all these issues!
Up 32 Down 4
My Opinion on Feb 23, 2021 at 4:26 pm
So just as a comparison the Whitehorse Dam puts out 40 Megawatts, Aishiak 37 Megawatts, Each of the Nat Gas units are 4.4 Mega Watts. This does not include Mayo A or B or any of the diesels. Yep 7 Megawatts for 4 hours will solve our problems. For Sure. What a Joke.
Up 25 Down 1
My Opinion on Feb 23, 2021 at 4:15 pm
What does this mean? "able to store 40 hours of energy, meaning the battery could supply seven megawatts for just shy of six hours."
Today it is -7 as I write this, our current electrical use is 70 Megawatts. How is 7 Megawatts for six hours going to do anything? That will keep the equivalent of one plug working in each house.
Up 22 Down 6
My Opinion on Feb 23, 2021 at 4:05 pm
No Race Based policies here, just keep moving along folks, just keep moving.
Up 20 Down 7
Practical Solution on Feb 23, 2021 at 2:28 pm
How about we put them on the Liberal seats in the Legislature... Waste not want not!
Up 16 Down 10
Wilf Carter on Feb 23, 2021 at 1:11 pm
How do they keep them charged by what type of energy? Yukon is out of green energy and nothing has been done about it under the liberals.
What is the environmental cost to remove and depose of these batteries, very high?
Also, is there any kind of dangerous gases or other things going into our air that can harm people near these B's over time like some of these B banks do?
Tell Yukoners especially First Nations who is going to live next to this?
Actually the environmental cost of these B station is much higher than fossil fuels especial natural gas.
This B station cost $7.7 million megawatt when fossil fuel cost $70,000 a MW.
Up 38 Down 13
BnR on Feb 23, 2021 at 11:53 am
Nuclear.
Just be done with it already. We could entirely get off hydrocarbons.
Up 38 Down 9
The Play roles on on Feb 23, 2021 at 4:15 am
Let's see. He does a fake citizens survey on the Mayo rd and gets 2 squatters and a trailer owner to complain about the batt plant disturbing them. Then he moves it to where he was intending all along and leases from first nations. Wait, here's the kicker, he has the unmitigated gall to address City council for a tax break which he wouldn't have needed at the Mayo rd. site. He will get a big promotion to some other unsuspecting site and begone from here in two years, feather in cap.
Up 44 Down 8
TMYK on Feb 22, 2021 at 7:32 pm
How much are tax payers paying KDFN for this?
Up 42 Down 8
Max Mack on Feb 22, 2021 at 6:44 pm
And this is why your electrical rates are going up >10% per year.
Highway robbery.
The simultaneous delusions of "green energy" and buying FN votes.
Up 42 Down 9
Concerned Citizen for More than One Reason on Feb 22, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Where EXACTLY is this? I live near there... and I want to start the same kind of opposition as the Mayo Road did.
Of course that will go nowhere since it's now on FN land at increased cost to all Yukoners (except maybe KDFN who already get increased benefits from Yukon tax dollars).
Why, if Yukon Energy is a crown corp, are they not using crown land? Wtf!
Why not do as Matthew suggests instead? Win, win for everyone... except maybe the CEO of Yukon Energy.
Up 45 Down 12
Crunch on Feb 22, 2021 at 3:23 pm
They brought the solar panel program in play with a subsidized payout to get people to invest in green. A lot of this power is being wasted as it is generated during the summer when demand is lower. In order to justify these programs they need to be able store this energy instead of misleading the public as to where this expenditure is going. Nothing that 40M won't fix..... in the short term...... just another great decision by people who say it's a privilege to be able to serve the North.
Up 49 Down 14
Matthew on Feb 22, 2021 at 3:08 pm
Oh please.. batteries are old tech! Why don't we build a plant that removes the hydrogen from water and bam, endless clean energy for all! Oh wait, we don't actually want clean energy now do we.. let's take bets here, they say it will cost $31M but we all know it will be closer to $40M. Wasn't too long ago it was $35M if I remember correctly.
Up 82 Down 11
Yukoner on Feb 22, 2021 at 2:34 pm
And you wonder why the rates are going up constantly when they decide to lease land from a FN...
Up 80 Down 4
Joe on Feb 22, 2021 at 2:12 pm
Intentionally missing is the cost to taxpayers for lease compared to using free crown land. Why is that?
Up 69 Down 11
bingo on Feb 22, 2021 at 2:04 pm
7 whole megawatts eh for a mere 31 million yikes! Don't the portable diesels produce that? My goodness, in order for this to be anywhere near prudent they will need another community of these battery bands and it will be in the half billion dollar range. There is no end to the "world is ending" lunacy.