ONTARIO — Boralex has commissioned the Sanjgon Battery Energy Storage facility, marking the company’s first operational energy storage project in North America.
The facility is located in the Municipality of Lakeshore, Ontario, and has an installed capacity of 80 megawatts with 320 megawatt-hours of storage.
The project was originally known as the Tilbury Battery Storage Project and was renamed Sanjgon following discussions with Walpole Island First Nation. The name is derived from the Nishnaabemwin language and reflects traditional storage practices historically used by families within the Nation.
Chief Leela Thomas of Walpole Island First Nation said the commissioning represents a meaningful step for both the community and the broader energy system. “The Sanjgon Battery Energy Storage facility marks a significant step toward a cleaner, more reliable energy future,” she said, noting that the Nation values the partnership with Boralex and the opportunity to advance long-term, sustainable solutions that benefit future generations.
The facility was developed through collaboration with Walpole Island First Nation and includes a Community Benefit Agreement with the Municipality of Lakeshore. Under the agreement, the municipality will receive annual payments of $1,000 per installed megawatt for the life of the project to support local initiatives. Mayor Tracey Bailey said hosting the facility reflects the municipality’s role in strengthening regional energy infrastructure while delivering long-term benefits to residents and businesses.
Sanjgon was selected through the Independent Electricity System Operator’s Expedited Long-Term Request for Proposals and is intended to support Ontario’s Resource Adequacy Framework by providing additional capacity and improving grid reliability. Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO of the IESO, said the project demonstrates how competitive procurements can deliver cost-effective infrastructure while involving Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry, and government.
The storage system consists of 89 utility-scale lithium-ion battery units, capable of delivering four hours of continuous full-power output to the provincial grid. According to Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent–Leamington and Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, the project strengthens grid resilience and supports economic development in the region.
With Sanjgon now operational and the Hagersville Battery Energy Storage Park expected to enter service in the coming weeks, Boralex anticipates reaching a total installed storage capacity of approximately 380 megawatts in Canada. Patrick Decostre, President and CEO of Boralex, said the commissioning reflects the company’s broader effort to expand its storage portfolio and support a more flexible and resilient electricity system.
Robin Deveaux, Executive Vice President and General Manager for North America at Boralex, emphasized the role of collaboration in delivering the project, citing the contributions of Walpole Island First Nation, the Municipality of Lakeshore, and project teams involved in development and construction.
Additional battery storage projects, including the Oxford project, are currently in development, with construction expected to begin in the near term.
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