NEWS RELEASE
ENERGY STORAGE CANADA
**************************
CENTRE WELLINGTON — On Tuesday evening, Energy Storage Canada and Energy Safety Response Group hosted a community roundtable at Aboyne Hall, Wellington County Museum, bringing together community members, fire safety professionals, local officials, and energy experts. The discussion focused on how gridscale energy storage can strengthen regional energy reliability, support community economic development and sustainability goals, and ensure community safety.
Speakers from the two organizations highlighted the importance of responsible project development, such as early community engagement, compliance with the industry safety standards, collaboration with experts and local first responders for safety planning, and the ability to provide predefined plans for land restoration and rehabilitation once their temporary term ends. These plans ensure sites can be efficiently returned to agricultural use, minimizing long-term impacts on land, while maximizing community benefits and reducing strain on municipal resources.
“Energy storage is key to a resilient and sustainable electricity grid in Ontario, and across Canada, so events like this roundtable are essential to ensure local leaders, first responders, and residents have access to fact-based information about these technologies,” said Justin Rangooni, President at Energy Storage Canada (ESC). “Public safety is a top priority for industry and the latest energy storage technology is built to meet the highest safety standards. Grid-scale batteries undergo rigorous safety testing, adhere to strict regulatory oversight, and incorporate advanced fire prevention measures to ensure everyone’s safety from the start of the project to its eventual decommissioning.”
"Safety is the top priority in battery energy storage, and modern systems are designed with multiple layers of protection to ensure public and emergency responder safety,” said Nick Petrakis, Senior Consultant at Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG). “These facilities undergo extensive testing to meet strict performance standards and include state-of-theart battery managements systems to prevent failure, real-time monitoring of fire detection and alarm systems, and emergency response training with local fire departments. By prioritizing safety at every stage — from design to operation — today’s battery storage facilities provide a secure and reliable energy solution for communities.”
**************************