Development News - Hydro
TC Energy, Pumped Storage Facility Proposal
Estimated location needs to be confirmed.
TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) is in the early stages of determining if a pumped storage project can be developed on the Canadian Army’s 4th Canadian Division Training Centre, in the Municipality of Meaford. The project would provide 1,000 MW of flexible, clean energy to Ontario’s electricity system using a technology known as pumped storage. It would be designed to store electricity when it is available in excess of our needs – typically electricity that would otherwise be wasted or exported at a loss. That stored energy would then provide emission-free electricity back to Ontarians when they need it most. There are numerous levels of assessment and approvals required before this concept could become a reality.
In Other Words
This is a proposal to pump water from Georgian Bay/Lake Huron up the Niagara Escarpment to a reservoir during off-peak hours and releasing the water through turbines when hydro energy is required generating a targeted 1,000 MW of energy over an 8-hour period. Water would move back/forward along the same tunnels/pipelines to the reservoir almost 2 kms from the shoreline and up 150m of elevation. The inlet/outlet and breakwall of the facility would extend 850 metres into the bay. It would take around 12 hours to refill the reservoir during off-peak hours. Rates would be regulated to ensure a profit.
Water Reservoir
The reservoir would be 20 metres/66' deep covering 350 acres/175 Cdn football fields, partly excavated and partly walled/bermed by the material extracted from the site (estimated 4m below grade, 16m above grade).
Above-noted upper reservoir size needs confirmation – seems too small for 350 acres.
The project is expected to cost $3.3 billion and create 800 jobs over 4 years of construction.
Concerns:
- Plant would require 30% more energy than it would produce – 12 hours of pumping to refill reservoir
- Province and local municipality have no jurisdiction on federal lands
- Half the average flow over Niagara Falls <what time frame?>
- Modelled on 1960’s technology in Ludington, Michigan (Wikipedia)
- Would be a “food processor” for fish
- Homes downhill from the reservoir (safety, insurance rates, home values)
Click here for TC Energy information about project
Timeline (chronological order)
|
Date |
Event |
|
2019 |
TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) Proposal |
|
2019-05 |
Permits to begin feasibility studies granted by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada under Dominion Water Power Act |
|
2019-12-11 |
First public meeting (CTV News) |
|
2020-01-16 |
Second public meeting |
|
2020-01-23 |
Third public meeting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEWS (reverse chronological order)
|
Date |
Source |
Title |
Comment |
|
2020-01-22 |
CTV News Barrie |
Roger Klein |
|
|
2020-01-17 |
AWARE-Simcoe.ca |
Donna Baylis |
|
|
2019-12-12 |
CTV News Barrie |
Hundreds turn up to hear plans for a generation station along Georgian Bay |
|
|
2019-12-05 |
Meaford Independent |
Stephen Carr |
|
|
2019-12 |
TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) |
|
|
|
2019-11-15 |
Meaford Independent |
Eric Brown |
|
|
2019-11-07 |
Meaford Independent |
Let’s Make Our Questions About the Proposed Pumped Storage Facility Matter |
Stephen Vance |
|
2019-10-25 |
Meaford Independent |
LTE: Reader Concerned About Proposed Energy Project on Tank Range |
Donna Mitchell |
|
2019-09-17 |
BlackburnNews.com |
Janice MacKay |
|
|
2019-09-11 |
CTV News Barrie |
Multi-billion-dollar hydro generation project proposed for Meaford military base |
Roger Klein |
Other Information:
Northland Power Marmora Pumped Storage Project proposal (using closed iron mine in Marmora) (2011)
Sir Adam Beck Pump Generating Station, Niagara Falls (750 acres = 1km x 3km, 175 MW) (article)
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Disclaimer: This information has been compiled through private amateur research for the purpose of allowing the reader to make an informed and educated decision. However, while the information is believed to be reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
APPENDICES
https://awareontario.nfshost.com/AWARE-Ontario/Issues/Dev_Hydro/Hydro%20Meaford%20Pumping%20Stn.htm