Grant: Strategic Network Grants Program

Electric grids comprising generation, transmission, and consumption will undergo a fundamental paradigmshift by introducing grid-scale energy storage (ES) systems. ES will be an invaluable asset for Canadianutilities who are facing intense pressures to provide clean, high quality, reliable and cheap energy, by enablingthe widespread use of: (1) renewables, by overcoming intermittency and uncertainty, (2) net-zero buildings, (3)conservation and demand management, (4) congestion mitigation for transmission systems, (5) energyarbitrage, and more. Though pumped-hydro ES systems have existed for several decades, their use is limiteddue to unsuitable geography and prohibitively high costs. In the last decade, new grid-scale ES technologieshave emerged with commercial potential that are deployable in urban and rural geographies at costs suitable forelectric grids including: (1) lithium-ion batteries, (2) flywheels, (3) compressed-air ES systems, and, (4)thermal ES systems. However, these ES technologies face significant hurdles, including high costs, technicalchallenges, and poor power system interfaces from technical, economic, policy and regulatory perspectives.Tapping into existing academic and industry research facilities and demonstration projects, in concert withCanadian researchers, technology providers, manufacturers, utilities, and governmental agencies, the NSERCEnergy Storage Technology (NEST) Network will foster improved synergistic, networked, collaborative andmultidisciplinary research with the objective of taking these four promising grid-scale ES technologies anddeveloping a suite of solutions to propel them into commercial success over the next five years and beyond.Focusing on four research Themes: 1) ES Technologies; 2) Power Electronics; 3) Systems Integration; and 4)Economics, Policy and Social Aspects, the NEST Network will yield new ES systems technologies and powerelectronics converters, innovative power system integration methods, and complementary economic models,policies, and regulations. It will enable Canadian leadership in ES and train highly qualified personnel withexpertise in ES, driving the sector and Canadian economy forward.