Tuesday, June 24, 2025
The Oneida Energy Storage Project has officially commenced commercial operations, becoming the largest grid-scale battery energy storage facility in operation in Canada and one of the largest globally.
Located in Haldimand County, Ontario, the 250 MW/ 1,000 MWh facility has been successfully delivered through a collaborative effort between Northland Power Inc., Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC), NRStor Inc., Aecon Concessions, and the Mississaugas of the Credit River Business Corporation as owners of Oneida Energy Storage Limited Partnership. Aecon led the engineering, procurement and construction services for the project alongside Aecon-Six Nations, a general partnership between SNGRDC and Aecon. Northland will oversee operations of the facility.
“This is a landmark project and a first-of-its kind in Canada that really lays the tracks and acts as the blueprint for other energy storage projects across the country,” Northland Power CEO Christine Healy told ReNew Canada.
“Beyond that, Oneida is a strong example of what meaningful indigenous participation and public-private sector collaboration can achieve when we all work together. From concept to operations, it’s really been about paving the way for storage to become a legitimate piece of the puzzle in Canada. Years ago, when we were completing the financing and contracting for the project, nobody was asking for energy storage projects. Today, governments are actively procuring it. Oneida really was the catalyst for the emergence of the energy storage sector in Canada and should be a foundational piece of our energy strategy moving forward.”
“Oneida Energy is an example of what can be accomplished when multiple levels of government work together with Indigenous partners to promote innovative thinking and crowd-in investment from both public and private companies,” added SNGRDC CEO Matt Jamieson, in an email conversation with ReNew Canada.
With 278 lithium-ion battery units now officially drawing and storing power from Ontario’s electricity grid, Oneida LP will receive fixed capacity payments through a 20-year capacity services contract with Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator and generate revenue from energy sold into the Ontario electricity grid as well as from providing ancillary services to the system.
“The Oneida Energy Storage Project marks a new era in the evolution of our electricity system. Battery storage projects like Oneida provide additional capacity to the grid, supporting the province’s economic growth this decade and beyond. Congratulations to all of the partners who contributed to the success of connecting the first battery energy storage project to the Ontario power system,” said Lesley Gallinger, president and CEO, Independent Electricity System Operator.
The Oneida Energy Storage facility doubles the amount of energy storage resources on Ontario’s electricity grid from 225 MW to 475 MW—adding critical capacity and grid reliability to support the province’s rising demand for energy driven by electrification, population growth and continued economic investment. Expected to reduce emissions by an estimated 1.2 – 4.1 million tonnes over the life of the project, the facility helps advance Ontario’s ongoing decarbonization efforts.
“The concept of energy storage helping to balance our supply and demand cycles in real time is something we’re doing here in Ontario, and something we are starting to replicate across the country,” added Healy. “Northland just reached financial close on our second 80MW/160Mwh battery energy storage facility in Alberta and are ready to enter construction. Oneida is the beginning, not the end, of our journey in storage and we should expect to see it replicated more and more.”
Originally developed under a 50/50 partnership between SNGRDC and NRStor Inc., the Oneida Energy Storage facility serves as a model for purposeful partnerships, prioritizing Indigenous involvement in the development of clean energy in Canada. A strong example of public-private sector collaboration—the project received significant funding from Natural Resources Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
“Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation is very proud be a foundational partner in developing the concept in collaboration with NRStor Inc., who are experts in the energy storage business,” added Jamieson. “It was this early vision that led to both Northland Power and Aecon Group to invest their financial resources and expertise to deliver a project that was on time and under budget.
“We believe Oneida Energy Storage is an example of what is possible when partners work alongside First Nations in the formative stages of the project – the stage where ideas are conceived and advanced based on mutual goals and values. With Oneida Energy being successfully developed and delivered to the caliber that it has, we have demonstrated that Indigenous partners are a valuable and essential player to have at the table when developing projects like this.”
At the local level, the project generated more than 180 jobs during construction for Indigenous and Ontario workers, totalling more than 300,000 hours of work. Bringing the strength of its majority Indigenous workforce, over 40 A6N employees worked on the project.
“The CIB is a proud partner in Oneida Energy Storage, and we congratulate the team on safely commencing operations. The project is a clear demonstration on how the public and private sectors along with First Nations can collaborate on important energy infrastructure while stimulating meaningful economic participation benefiting communities,” said Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank.
John Tenpenny is the editor of ReNew Canada.
[This article appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of ReNew Canada.]
Featured image: The Oneida Energy Storage facility serves as a model for purposeful partnerships, prioritizing Indigenous involvement in the development of clean energy in Canada. (Northland Power)
