FERGUS – An energy storage facility proposed to be built on the edge of Fergus has moved on to the next step of becoming reality.
Aypa Power has applied for a zoning bylaw amendment with the Township of Centre Wellington which would pave the way for a battery energy storage system (BESS) to be built on Guelph Street just beyond Fergus’ southern urban boundary near Second Line and Highway 6 called the Elora BESS.
A BESS is a facility of rechargeable batteries that can store energy from different sources or during off-peak hours and feed it back into the grid when demand for electricity is highest.
Last fall, Centre Wellington council approved a municipal support resolution in support of this project as part of Aypa Power’s submission to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), who oversee Ontario’s electricity markets.
The property address, municipally known as 6235 Guelph St., is surrounded by agricultural land and a landscape business but the South Fergus Secondary Plan forecasts future residential and commercial development to reach Second Line not far from the planned facility.
A planning report said the IESO forecasts Ontario’s total electricity demand to increase by 60 per cent over the next 25 years and therefore projects like this are necessary to meet this.
The report also noted the BESS must have the ability to connect to the transmission line and the only available lands in the township to do this is zoned for agriculture.
The applicant has also applied for an official plan amendment with the County of Wellington.
This proposal will be subject to a public meeting at a later date.
The full application and supporting documents can be found here.
