March 29, 2024
Global Renewable News

TORONTO HYDRO CORPORATION
World's first grid-scale pole-mounted energy storage system showing promising results
Toronto Hydro, Ryerson University and eCAMION Inc. highlighting innovative pilot project with new video

July 5, 2017

A pole-mounted energy storage system located in Toronto's North York neighbourhood is showing positive results in the early stages of a pilot program.

Put into service in August 2016, this unique energy storage system is mounted to the top of an existing hydro pole. The system stores energy during off-peak hours and releases power as needed.  

The project team is currently monitoring how the technology responds to real-time data. From initial results, the energy storage system has demonstrated an ability to reduce strain on the local transformer. The pilot continues to run and, if successful, it could become a standard that's rolled out with all new installations on the over 175,000 poles across the city.

Toronto Hydro is exploring energy storage as a way to extend the lifespan of some of its equipment. This energy storage device can also act as a temporary source of backup power during outages.

To learn more about the project, view a new video that showcases the technology.

This innovative project was made possible with support from Ontario's Smart Grid Fund, which helps those on the leading edge of the smart grid industry to test their grid modernization solutions in real world settings. The unit was developed by Ryerson University and piloted by Toronto Hydro using eCAMION battery technology.


QUICK FACTS

  • The pole-mounted unit is able to store the equivalent energy of approximately 2,100 smartphone batteries
  • This energy storage system is unique because it doesn't have a footprint - it's attached to existing power poles

QUOTES

"This is another example of a creative and innovative energy storage system being installed on our grid. We're focused on supporting collaborative projects like this one as it contributes to an integrated electricity system better designed to handle peak demand and improve reliability for our customers."
- Anthony Haines, President and CEO, Toronto Hydro

"Ryerson University's Centre for Urban Energy is pleased to have developed the world's first pole-mounted energy storage unit in collaboration with Toronto Hydro and eCAMION. The project showcases how the use of energy storage and smart grid technologies can enhance distribution system performance and reduce asset upgrade costs. It is a true made-in-Toronto success story."
- Bala Venkatesh, Academic Director, Centre for Urban Energy at Ryerson University 

"The early results of the pilot are very encouraging and the energy storage unit is performing well. Our collaboration with Toronto Hydro and Ryerson's Centre for Urban Energy has been very beneficial in helping launch this innovative product on a large-scale grid."
- Carmine Pizzurro, President, eCAMION Inc.

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 764,000 customers located in the city of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 18% of the electricity consumed in the province of Ontario.

ABOUT RYERSON CENTRE FOR URBAN ENERGY

The Centre for Urban Energy (CUE) at Ryerson University is an academic-industry partnership that is exploring and developing sustainable solutions to urban energy challenges such as the advancement of smart grid technologies, energy policy and regulatory issues, storage, electric vehicles, net-zero homes and renewables.

ABOUT eCAMION

eCAMION Inc. is a Toronto, based provider of modular, smart energy storage solutions that find innovative use in community storage, EV charging, auxiliary power units, storage for renewable energy projects as well as in custom applications. These solutions work seamlessly with the existing grid and eliminate issues such as intermittent supply, grid connectivity, and aging infrastructure to ensure reliable and consistent supply of energy. eCAMION's energy storage systems have been successfully deployed at various locations across Ontario and North America. For more information, please visit www.ecamion.com or email info@ecamion.com

For more information

Toronto Hydro Corporation
14 Carlton Street
Toronto Ontario
Canada M5B 1K5
www.torontohydro.com/


Tori Gass, Communications & Public Affairs
Toronto Hydro
media@torontohydro.com
media line: 416-903-6845


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