The Hydro-Quebec subsidiary specializing in battery energy storage, EVLO, inaugurates its first international project on Thursday, in France. The project called “Tonnerre”, the result of a collaboration with Innergex, will “contribute to the stability” of the French electricity transmission network.
This is the very first time that EVLO’s storage technology has been exported beyond Quebec’s borders, proudly points out Sonia St-Arnaud, CEO of the subsidiary since last May. This is a project that “brings out Quebec know-how,” she rejoices.
It must be said that the Tonnerre project is piloted by another company from here, the Longueuil-based Innergex, which specializes in the production of renewable energies. The one that owns about fifteen wind farms in France has decided to call on the services of EVLO for a battery energy storage solution.
In service since July 22, the Tonnerre facilities, located in Joux-la-Ville, in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, allow, among other things, to “contribute to the stability” of the French network during periods of tension, indicates Mme St-Arnaud.
The capacity of the new storage facilities is 9 MW/9 MWh, she explains. Roughly speaking, this means that the Tonnerre project would have the capacity to power 4,800 homes for 1 hour – taking as a reference an average Quebec home that is heated with electricity, according to EVLO estimates.
According to Mme St-Arnaud, energy storage projects, like that of Tonnerre, constitute an essential link in the energy transition. “Wind and solar energy are intermittent sources of energy. So that means that networks need storage systems to deal with irregularities,” she explains.
“The Tonnerre site, which is located right next to the wind farms [Yonne et Yonne II d’Innergex], is a perfect example of coupling renewable energy production with storage solutions. »
The CEO of EVLO hopes that other projects of the same type will emerge elsewhere, believing that the company has what it takes to distinguish itself from its competitors. In particular, EVLO batteries are “safer” and “eco-efficient”, thanks to patented lithium iron phosphate technology, argues the subsidiary. “Among the markets we are targeting are the United States, certain Canadian provinces and Europe as well,” said Ms.me St-Arnaud.