Battery storage facility proposed near Paris Waste Transfer Station

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

Alectra Energy Solutions, a division of Alectra Utilities, is proposing to build a 75-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the County of Brant’s municipally owned lands at the Paris Waste Transfer Station. The proposal was presented during a public open house held October 9 at the Brant Sports Complex. Attendance was limited, with only a few residents present alongside councillors, County staff and Brant Municipal Enterprises CEO Darryl Lee. One attendee noted that there had been little public communication about the event.

The proposed facility would store electricity from Ontario’s power grid during off-peak hours and discharge it when demand is high, helping to stabilize the grid and improve reliability. The project would occupy approximately five to ten acres of land and connect to nearby transmission lines, a factor Alectra says will help minimize construction disruption and costs. The company also stated the project will meet all municipal and provincial planning and environmental requirements and be designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding community and environment.

The plan is being submitted to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) as part of its Long-Term 2 Request for Proposals (LT2 RFP), which is seeking to secure 600 megawatts of new capacity resources across the province. Under the proposed timeline, the RFP was released in June 2025, with submissions due in December. Successful projects are expected to be announced in 2026, followed by a period of approvals and permitting through 2027. Construction could begin as early as 2027 or 2028, with operations commencing between 2029 and 2030. Development is expected to take between three and five years, with multiple opportunities for public engagement throughout the process.

Alectra representatives emphasized that safety will be central to the project’s design and operation. The company outlined a multi-layered approach that includes individual battery cells fully enclosed and tested to high performance standards, battery management systems that continually monitor cell health, and enclosures built to contain and prevent the spread of fire. Each unit is equipped with passive and active safety systems such as temperature, gas and fire detection sensors, ventilation and fire suppression systems, and 24/7 remote monitoring. The project will also comply with rigorous fire and electrical safety standards.

Alectra confirmed it has already engaged with the County of Brant Fire Department to review the proposal and gather feedback. A site hazard mitigation analysis and emergency response plan will be developed as part of the approval process, and local firefighters will receive site-specific training and orientation before operations begin. The company said robust fire detection and monitoring systems will be installed, with continuous on-site and remote supervision. Brant’s Fire Chief, Darren Watson, was in attendance. 

During the open house, councillors raised several safety and environmental questions. Councillor Steve Howes asked how large the battery units would be and whether there could be any risk requiring an evacuation if a fire occurred. He noted that he will field many questions of this variety from constituents. 

David Anders, Alectra Energy Solution’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources, explained that each container measures roughly six by eight feet. Referencing the image shown during the presentation, he confirmed the Paris BESS project would be four times the size of the one Alectra is currently constructing in Guelph, which means the site could house approximately 400 containers. He added that any evacuation response would be at the discretion of the fire department, depending on the specific circumstances. Anders also confirmed that there are no groundwater contamination concerns, as the units are fully self-contained. In the rare event of a fire, it is often safer to allow a unit to burn out rather than douse it with water, which could cause run-off.

Councillor Howes also noted that the County is considering incorporating a public park and bike trail, called the North of the Nith, near the site and asked whether the proximity of the BESS facility would be a concern or interfere with this proposed project. Anders said fencing and grounding requirements ensure public safety, adding that it would be possible to have a bike path directly outside the fenced area without issue.

Councillor John Peirce requested clarification on failure rates, referencing a claim that industry-wide incidents have dropped by 97 per cent since 2018, but wondered what are the specific numbers? Anders confirmed that the statistic came from EPRI research, and that failure does not necessarily mean fire. Kevin Whyte, Alectra’s Government Relations and Development representative, added that most “failures” refer to minor technical issues such as breakers tripping or battery systems shutting down. “Failure might be a breaker goes off or one system stops working. It does not mean it has a thermal runaway and starts a fire. Of the failures, 40% are fire and 60% are just battery stops working,” said Whyte.

Alectra said it will continue engaging with the municipality and local stakeholders as the project moves through the approval process. The company also committed to fully funding construction, operation and maintenance costs, emphasizing that no financial burden would fall to County ratepayers.

While the project marks a potential step toward expanding Ontario’s clean energy capacity, several County officials acknowledged that public outreach will be essential as the process advances to ensure residents are informed and involved in discussions about the facility’s development and long-term impacts. Alectra must bring the presentation to council for municipal approval and support.