Minto Flywheel Facility
Canada’s First Grid-Connected Flywheel Storage Project
In 2012, the IESO selected NRStor to develop a 2MW flywheel project through a competitive RFP process. Located in the Town of Minto and commissioned in July 2014, this flywheel project was the first grid-connected commercial flywheel facility in Canada and has had a major impact on Canada’s energy storage landscape.
Flywheels – Proven Technology that Works
A flywheel is a mechanical battery that stores electricity in the form of kinetic energy. Electricity is used to operate a motor that accelerates a rotating steel mass to a high speed. Because the flywheel is spinning in a vacuum, there is no air drag and the rotational energy can be “stored” for relatively long periods of time with minimal parasitic losses. The flywheel’s momentum can then be harnessed to generate electricity on demand.
Project Highlights
By delivering high-performance regulation services, the facility not only met but significantly outperformed the IESO’s operational expectations. Its success extended beyond performance metrics, serving as a pioneering real-world test bed for integrating energy storage into grid operations. This enabled deeper insights into how storage assets can enhance system flexibility and resilience, while also informing the evolution of regulatory frameworks to better accommodate innovative technologies.
This facility was also the first hybrid solar/flywheel facility in Canada. The hybrid facility demonstrated capabilities in both frequency regulation and renewable energy smoothing, proving the viability of advanced hybrid technologies in supporting a cleaner, more stable grid.
Featured Project
Oneida Energy Storage Project
The Oneida Energy Storage Project will be Canada’s largest battery facility, delivering major cost savings, emissions reductions, and local job creation. Developed in partnership with Six Nations of the Grand River, it will enhance grid reliability and support Ontario’s transition to cleaner energy