Valley Edge
Battery

Transmission design and interconnection work for Valley Edge BESS, including public consultation, will be undertaken by AltaLink, Alberta’s largest regulated electricity transmission provider. Valley Edge BESS is planned to interconnect to the existing 138 kV high-voltage transmission line 755L via a t-tap connection. The interconnection point is located approximately 750 meters south-west of the project site boundary.

In May 2024, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) released its Long-term Outlook report, projecting significant growth in Alberta’s energy demand over the next 20 years. This increase is driven by the electrification of transportation, heating, and industrial activities, along with emerging sectors such as data centers and AI-related computing. Energy storage is highlighted as a supplementary solution in the early phase of the forecast. 

To support the grid, AESO plans to procure up to 800 MW of power from battery energy storage systems (BESS) by 2026. 

Batteries provide a host of important services to improve the grid: 

• Frequency support: Batteries can react in microseconds to stabilize the grid in real time, thereby preventing grid failures 

• In case of exceptional events such as sudden spike in demand in winter, batteries can support the network 

• Battery facilities smoothens the intermittency of renewables. As more cheap renewable power comes on grid, batteries balance the production profile.

The proposed site satisfies the conditions necessary to host a battery facility, including landowner willingness, minimal environmental constraints, relatively flat terrain, proximity to transmission that can accommodate the facility, proximity to demand, construction feasibility, and site accessibility.

Yes, benefits will be outlined in Valley Edge Battery’s community benefits agreement.

Neoen’s framework for community benefits includes a community benefits fund to support initiatives aligned with Neoen’s values and Sustainability Framework, including clean energy, environmental, biodiversity, educational, social, cultural and Indigenous-specific initiatives. Proposals to the fund will be reviewed by a local advisory committee and disbursed annually.

Additionally, on projects greater than 50 MW, Neoen commissions a local art installation.

Valley Edge Battery will generate significant local employment and supplier opportunities for the community.

Valley Edge Battery is expected to be in operation for 20 to 30 years.

Valley Edge Battery will charge and discharge electricity based on market signals and system needs, as managed by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO). Since Alberta operates a provincially interconnected electricity grid, it is not possible to trace the specific source of energy that the battery stores or where the discharged power will be used. The battery facility will draw electricity from the grid when charging and inject power back into the grid when discharging, contributing to overall system reliability, energy balancing, and market efficiency. Ultimately, the energy mix in Alberta is determined by the generation sources feeding into the grid at any given time.

Construction of a battery facility typically takes 1.5 to 2 years to complete, with civil construction activities, such as excavation, lasting between six and 12 months. Construction duration is affected by factors such as weather and supply chain.

Battery facility construction activities include: 

• installation of site temporary fencing 

• equipment mobilization 

• ground clearing and grading 

• shallow excavation and pouring of concrete slabs or drilling of helical piles 

• hoisting of battery containers and substation equipment 

• erection of steel or wood transmission structures and transmission lines 

• electrical connection work 

• acoustic barrier wall installation (if required) 

• permanent fence installation 

• final landscaping 

In addition to construction activities, daily deliveries and truck activity along haul routes can be expected. At peak construction, approximately 100 people can be expected on-site each day.

It will take four fours to complete a charge and four hours to complete a discharge. There may also be periods where the facility is unstaffed. The battery facility is remotely monitored 24/7.

Valley Edge Battery is not subject to a decommissioning bond or security under the terms of its lease agreement. However, the project will be required to comply with any reclamation security requirements that may be established by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) or the Government of Alberta (GoA). The lease agreement outlines the lessee’s obligation to restore the leased lands to their original condition upon surrender, termination, or expiry, in accordance with applicable laws at the time of decommissioning.

Neoen is committed to adhering to all applicable regulations and understands that the GoA is currently developing policy and regulatory measures regarding reclamation security requirements. Neoen will ensure compliance with any such requirements once they are finalized and come into effect.

Yes, Valley Edge Battery is subject to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) Rule 007: Applications for Power Plants, Substations, Transmission Lines, Industrial System Designations, Hydro Developments and Gas Utility Pipelines. As part of the AUC application, Neoen must complete an Environmental Evaluation and Environmental Protection Plan that will assess and report on any potential impacts to the environment and any associated mitigation measures. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA) will provide feedback on the Environmental Evaluations and Environmental Protection Plan. The Environmental Evaluation for Valley Edge Battery was completed on XXX XX, 2025.

The BESS facility does not encroach wetlands. Two site access roads are identified for Valley Edge Battery. The access road follows AltaLink’s right-of-way access for it’s existing high-voltage transmission line and encroaches a Class II wetland that does not require a setback. Road upgrades may be required, which could necessitate approval under the Water Act. More information on road access, including associated works and permitting will be available as the design of Valley Edge BESS advances.

1. All energy technologies come with risk of hazard. For BESS facilities, safety risks include thermal runaway and spill events. Thermal runaway is an exothermic reaction whereby damaged battery cells heat abnormally resulting in possible smoke, fire, or combustion. Thermal runaway can occur from an internal short circuit, external short circuit, external fire, and BESS degradation.

Spill events, including refrigerant, coolant, and oil spills, can result from equipment malfunctions or blunt force to BESS components, such as transformers.

Hazard events are rare and prevented by rigorous design and safety features, including active and passive forms of protection, stringent safety protocols, and 24/7 monitoring. If a hazard occurs, Neoen’s BESS facilities are designed to mitigate propagation, contamination, and injury.

Neoen works with local first responders to prepare integrated emergency prevention and response plans for its facilities, to provide facility training, and to ensure response capacity in the event of an emergency. 

The typical response to a BESS fire is to let the compromised container burn. In some cases, cooling of surrounding areas with water may take place. Neoen’s BESS facilities are designed with separation between battery containers to prevent propagation. Passive protection, like the use of fire-resistant materials, spill trays, and non-combustible oils will be used to minimize severity of a potential hazard event. Water is never used directly on a battery fire.

In some cases, a battery fires may result in gas emissions, and evacuation may be required. An air dispersion model (ADM) has been completed for Jumbo BESS that will determine impact to air in the event of fire.

A fire would trigger Neoen’s emergency response protocol.