Hitachi Energy to Deliver the Grid Connection Infrastructure Behind One of Canada's Most Ambitious Energy Storage Projects
Customer Story | 3 min read
As Alberta continues to expand renewable energy generation, maintaining grid reliability and flexibility is becoming increasingly important. The Marguerite Lake Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) project is being developed to address this challenge by storing excess electricity and delivering it back to the grid when demand is highest, helping create a more resilient and sustainable energy system. Developed by Cache Power, Federation Group, and Ellis Don near La Corey, Alberta, the project is expected to provide up to 640 MW of generation capacity and approximately 48 hours of energy storage capability. As a key technology partner, Hitachi Energy is providing the critical substation infrastructure that will connect the facility to Alberta's power system, enabling the reliable integration of long-duration energy storage and supporting the province's evolving the province's evolving energy transition.
The challenge
As wind and solar resources continue to expand across Alberta, the need for large-scale energy storage solutions is growing. While renewable generation is critical to the energy transition, its variable nature requires technologies that can balance supply and demand while maintaining grid stability.
Marguerite Lake, a long-duration energy storage project, is designed to meet this need by storing surplus electricity during periods of lower demand and making it available when energy is needed most. The project will store compressed air in solution-mined salt caverns located approximately 1,100 meters underground within the Lotsberg salt formation, geological conditions considered ideal for large-scale compressed air energy storage. Located adjacent to existing transmission infrastructure, the project is expected to support greater renewable energy integration while enhancing the flexibility and reliability of Alberta's power system.
The solution
The Marguerite Lake CAES project utilizes underground salt caverns to store compressed air, creating a flexible and dispatchable energy resource capable of responding to changing grid conditions.
To enable the facility's reliable connection to Alberta's power system, Hitachi Energy is providing the critical substation infrastructure that will serve as the gateway between the storage facility and the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). Through the design, engineering, supply, and construction of the substation, Hitachi Energy is helping establish a secure and reliable grid connection while providing the foundation needed to maximize the value of long-duration energy storage.
The impact
Once operational, the Marguerite Lake CAES project is expected to strengthen grid reliability, improve energy flexibility, and support the continued growth of renewable energy across Alberta. By enabling the integration of large-scale, long-duration energy storage, the project is anticipated to play an important role in advancing Canada's energy transition goals while supporting a more resilient and sustainable electricity system for future generations.
