ESC began in the early 2010s as Energy Storage Ontario and was brought to life by various innovators in the sector who felt that national decision-makers should be more educated on energy storage technologies.

In the time since Rangooni signed on to his position in 2019, ESC has seen new energy storage projects announced across the country, both big and small, as well as ongoing energy storage procurement targets including contracts awarded up to 3000 megawatts in Ontario. He says the phenomenal growth in such a short period of time is indicative of the hard work of ESC and its members as they continue to strive to cement Canadian leadership in the industry.

While ESC focuses exclusively on energy storage—of all technologies and durations—it supports the industry through a range of services, including advocating for policy, providing education and resources, as well as offering networking opportunities for those involved in the conversation. “We think energy storage is central to Canada’s energy transition… without energy storage, it cannot happen,” Rangooni says. ESC is advocating for energy storage to be integrated to the grid at all levels—utility scale, distributed energy resources (DERs), vehicle-to-grid, and behind-the-metre (BTM), of all durations.

Rangooni says that energy storage does more than just storing renewable energy like solar, wind power, or tidal power; it also helps optimize sources like hydroelectricity, nuclear, hydrogen, and more. He believes that the ability and use of energy storage covers the entire energy landscape, not just certain areas, which is why energy storage resources are an increasingly attractive option.

The energy storage industry in Canada is strong. The growth and momentum of the industry has been exceptional in the past five years, reflecting the larger global trend of energy storage installations exceeding projections at every turn. The growing number of companies engaged in the energy storage industry across Canada is further evidence of the ever-expanding breadth of the sector. It is not just storage developers and battery manufacturers driving the scale of energy storage development, but the full end-to-end value chain, from utilities to electric vehicle manufacturers, EPCs to municipalities. Indeed, many more provinces and entities are seeing the growth of energy storage and viewing it as a critical tool.

ESC has over 100 members, a significant milestone considering that, only five years ago, the number of organizations under its banner was less than half of that. This growth is a reflection of the work ESC and its members have done to provide resources for energy stakeholders, including a report in 2020 providing an assessment of the value of energy storage to the Ontario power grid, a paper that set the stage for current procurement.

The organization has also done seminal written work on the contribution of energy storage resources to achieving Canada’s net zero goals by 2035, outlining how much energy storage would be required (around eight to twelve gigawatts), as well as providing Canada’s first estimates of that potential provincially. This year, ESC released its first long-duration energy storage (LDES) paper, analyzing the substantial potential of LDES to contribute to the realization of Ontario’s goals of economic development and decarbonization.

Advocating for energy storage is not without its complications, and ESC must contend with the simple reality that every province has its own energy policies and market regulations. Often the organization starts from the beginning to educate stakeholders, government representatives, and regulators on the benefits of energy storage through policy submissions, white papers, and advocacy to provincial governments and potential customers. The result is seeing some provinces such as Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia setting procurement targets, where ESC and its members can continue to serve as a resource throughout the deployment and implementation.

Every province is essentially its own country in terms of energy policy and system planning, and as Rangooni says, not everyone is aligned on how to meet energy goals despite agreeing on issues like decarbonization. The challenge for ESC is to ensure that Canada maintains its clean energy advantage, while respecting each province’s responsibilities toward their own energy policies. It is an interesting balance to achieve, especially considering the diversity of energy resources deployed in each province.

Rangooni says that Ontario is currently the country’s leader in procuring energy storage, with a target of approximately 3,000 megawatts of short-duration energy storage to support its capacity needs, garnering worldwide attention. Alberta is another leading province, with over 100 megawatts of its first energy storage projects energized, connected, and providing value to the system. Rangooni says that Alberta was the first out of the gate for energy storage in Canada, but in a free market system like Alberta’s, it’s important to ensure market rules create a level playing field for energy storage resources to compete with other forms of energy generation.

Rangooni says that, with any infrastructure, there will always be questions to answer, and energy storage is no different. Currently, the most common questions ESC addresses are related to fire safety for battery energy storage systems (BESS). He explains that ESC has been able to bring in safety experts, including firefighters, to provide test data and regulations for battery source systems in North America, as well as Canada specifically, to reassure interested parties that, if these batteries are kept up to code, the risks are minimal and can be contained by safety features inherent to the containers.

Generally, Rangooni says, the Canadian public understands the advantages of energy storage, especially as an offset for intermittent resources such as solar or wind power. Energy storage resources enable excess inexpensive energy produced in the electricity system to be stored until later when the system demand is higher. Energy storage is also proving to be a bipartisan political issue, with both sides of the aisle interested in the value it provides.

ESC is working with governments and regulators to increase awareness of energy storage as a mainstream resource and tool for the energy system, normalizing the key role it plays. Long-term, the organization wants to ensure that emerging energy storage technologies such as longer duration solutions or different battery chemistries are being considered as well.

In the immediate term, ESC is looking forward to the upcoming Energy Storage Canada Conference, the biggest energy storage-dedicated conference in Canada, hosted October 8 and 9 at the Beanfield Centre in Toronto. The conference is focused exclusively on energy storage topics and provides a range of networking opportunities with the industry’s key stakeholders. “You need a dedicated organization like this to advance energy storage across the country,” Rangooni says, and ESC remains as steadfast as ever in its vision.

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At its core, sustainability is about using less. How many of us grew up with parents (apologies to all the dads) who scolded us for letting the faucet run while brushing our teeth instead of shutting it off or suggested—rather impolitely—we ‘put on a damn sweater!’ instead of turning up the thermostat? Likewise, leaving on the lights in an unattended room usually resulted in a lecture starting with, ‘Do you know how much our electric bill is every month?’

Fast-forward decades, and our parents are replaced by all levels of government. And although some of the ‘reduce energy’ lectures are about money, they are mainly about reducing our carbon footprint and saving the planet.

When basics became luxuries
Back in the ’70s, few of us worried about the essentials: water, food, and gasoline. Want a glass of water? Turn on the kitchen tap. Lawn looking a little dry? No problem. Put on the oscillating sprinkler for a few hours. And gasoline for massive, eight-cylinder cars? No issues. In America, a gallon of gas went up a mere two cents between 1969 and 1973, from 34 to 36 cents. All was good… that is, until the OPEC crisis, sometimes referred to as the Arab oil embargo.

Now relegated to history books, the October 1973 Arab-Israeli War saw Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) introduce an embargo against the United States, South Africa, Portugal, and other nations in retaliation for America’s re-supplying Israel’s military. International relations were strained, along with supplies of oil. The price of oil almost quadrupled, from $2.90 USD a barrel to $11.65 USD in just a few months. Fuel was rationed, lack of supply was evident at the pumps, and the ripple effect kept on going. Gasoline prices between 1974 and 1975 skyrocketed from 39 cents per gallon to 53 cents, and kept on increasing. Only after months of negotiations did the embargo end in March 1974.

The OPEC crisis sent a clear message to North Americans: the days of dependence on cheap fuel were over, never to return. Many began questioning their massive, gas-guzzling vehicles. Almost overnight, mopeds—cycles with a small engine and pedals—were seen on city streets. Able to get over 100 miles (161 km) to the gallon, mopeds soon became best sellers as drivers realized how dependent they were on now-costly gasoline. Homeowners, paying more attention to their electricity and home heating bills, started exploring alternate sources of power, particularly solar energy.

Starting small
Today, it is impossible to discuss energy consumption without using words like “green” and “sustainable.” What was once the passion of environmental activists is now everyday conversation, especially in business.

There are many ways companies can reduce their carbon footprint. Some are modest, while others require massive investment. The simplest, and least costly, involves The Three R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Many enterprises, such as manufacturing, generate waste, but that doesn’t mean companies have to be wasteful.

Even small things, like repairing office furniture instead of buying new, keeps desks and chairs out of landfill. Likewise, purchasing supplies and products from local providers in large quantities means less fuel used for transportation, reduced carbon emissions, and fewer trucks on the roads making multiple trips. Some initiatives, like replacing light switches with dimmers and swapping out older, inefficient lights for LEDs, require investment, but it is one that pays off in the long run.

Another way to reduce one’s carbon footprint is with ESG software. Short for Environmental, Social, and Governance, such software programs are designed to help businesses measure and monitor their carbon emissions and implement ways to improve sustainability.

And although the COVID-19 pandemic caused chaos, it also forced companies to re-think how to conduct business, with many adopting hybrid work. Working and taking meetings from home became popular, and for companies, off-site workers often mean less energy wasted, since there is no point having lights, heating, and air conditioning on in every office if no one is there.

Investing in efficiencies
For business and commercial property owners seriously considering investing in long-term solutions, there are many options, starting with energy audits. While there are various ways of approaching these audits through registered organizations, the goal is to evaluate, test, and make recommendations to improve efficiencies by revealing ways properties are wasting energy. Many larger businesses today have designated sustainability officers, who often lead a team focused on identifying carbon emissions and achieving reduction targets.

Businesses and commercial property owners seeking to reduce their environmental impact can take advantage of various subsidies, grants, and other incentives. Likewise, homeowners can tap into programs like the Canada Greener Homes Initiative for transformative products, like switching from oil to heat pump technology. The Canada Greener Homes Loan provides up to $40,000 in interest-free financing, depending on eligibility criteria, for pre-retrofit stage renovations.

Commercial property owners can search various energy efficiency incentives via the Natural Resources Canada website. Described as “an online inventory of programs to promote the efficient use or conservation of energy at the end-use level and/or of the use of alternative energy in Canada.” Along with searching through ENERGY STAR® Rebates, an Incentives Directory, and specific Energy Efficiency Programs for Industry, businesses and property owners can find programs covering awareness and information, financial incentives, research and development, new construction, rebates, and more.

In Canada, there are also incentives for businesses making clean tech investments to improve energy efficiency and reduce their environmental impact. Depending on the level of government, these can include tax credits, wage subsidies, loans, funding, opportunities for collaboration, and more. Canada’s federal government also provides over two dozen Environment and Climate Change funding programs. Depending on eligibility, recipients can sign up for emissions reduction advancement programs, zero plastic waste initiatives, and other programs.

In the United States, President Biden’s Federal Sustainability Plan addresses several environmental goals, including reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52 percent (from 2005 levels) by 2030, and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The aim is to support clean energy industries, foster a climate- and sustainability-focused workforce, create more climate-resilient infrastructure and operations, and other green initiatives. Depending on need, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds over $4 billion in grants and various assistance agreements.

For businesses big and small, much can be done to protect and preserve the environment. Basics like recycling, conserving and re-using water, adding insulation, and switching to energy-efficient lighting can be done without breaking the budget. And organizations who take up such initiatives will reap the benefits for years to come.

The post Balancing Sustainability and Profitability<p class="company">How Businesses Can Cut Their Carbon Footprints on a Budget</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.