Neoen to build 8-hour battery in Ontario with Eagle Lake First Nation

French renewables developer Neoen confirmed on Tuesday that alongside Eagle Lake First Nation it has been awarded a 190-MW capacity contract by Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) in connection with a new battery storage project.

the Canadian province awarded 20-year contracts for a total of 640 MW of new energy storage capacity under its Long-Term 2 (LT2) Capacity Window 1 procurement programme. All three successful projects, including Neoen’s, represent 50/50 partnerships with Indigenous communities. Eagle Lake First Nation, also known as Migisi Sahgaigan, is an Ojibwe community located on the northeast shores of Eagle Lake, about 25 km southwest of the City of Dryden.

Neoen and Eagle Lake First Nation have joined forces to build a 200-MW/1,600-MWh battery storage facility some 15 km west of Dryden, in the District of Kenora. Construction is planned to launch in 2028, with a target in-service date of 2030.

Including this latest contract, the French company now has 918 MW of capacity secured in Ontario and 1,168 MW across Canada. These numbers take into account assets in operation, under construction or awarded, the firm noted.