Rodan Energy Solutions has signed a long-term agreement with St. Marys Cement Inc. to build a new battery energy storage system (BESS) at St. Marys Cement’s Bowmanville, Ontario facility.

Once complete, the 50 MWh BESS asset will be the largest of its kind in Canada to date, Rodan officials say. For St. Marys Cement and Toronto-based parent company Votorantim Cimentos North America (VCNA), the project represents a step in a more sustainable direction.

Operating in Bowmanville since 1968, the plant and its surrounding community have seen continued investment from VCNA over the decades, officials say. The new battery system will be part of a renewable energy facelift, improving energy performance, operational resilience, and site-wide environmental impact.

“This agreement is a demonstration of what behind-the-meter BESS can deliver for large industrial energy users – real economic savings, a lower emissions footprint, and energy security they control,” says Rodan president and CEO Paul Grod. “Rodan owns and operates the asset, so our performance is tied directly to delivering meaningful outcomes for our client.

“We are actively building a North American portfolio of projects like this one, and we are looking for the right C&I partners, financiers, battery manufacturers, and EPCs to grow with us.”

The battery system will allow the Ontarian cement production plant to cut down on grid demand during peak hours of electricity usage. Additionally, the plant will enable battery charging during lower-demand periods, heavily cutting into VCNA’s overall electrical utility bills.

Laying the foundation

The St. Marys project will run on Rodan’s FlexOps energy optimization platform, managing more than 1.5 GW of distributed energy resources across North America. The installation “creates a foundation for evaluating similar opportunities across other VCNA operations,” officials say, demonstrating how energy infrastructure improvements can further support reliable production.

“By helping us reduce demand on the grid during periods of peak system demand while supporting reliable plant operations, the project reflects Sustainable Legacy, one of the values of Our VC Way, and our commitment to creating lasting value for our operations and communities,” says Jorge Wagner, president and CEO of Votorantim Cimentos North America. “Rodan brings the technical capability, long-term commitment and operational depth to help us deliver these outcomes over the life of the asset.”

Through the FlexOps platform, Rodan will develop, own, and operate. This approach allows the Mississauga, Ontario-based energy firm to deliver “ongoing energy optimization” and further help along VCNA’s sustainability goals. The company currently has a commitment to net-zero concrete by 2050, as well as interim targets to hit by 2030.

“Our Bowmanville plant has been part of the community since 1968, and we have continued to invest in its long-term performance,” Wagner adds. “This project brings together energy cost management, operational resilience and our sustainability roadmap in a practical way.”

— Solar Builder magazine