Aypa Power Canada is proud to engage with Walpole Island First Nation - Bkejwanong, "where the waters divide" - as we develop two projects in Chatham-Kent that will strengthen Ontario's power grid for generations to come.
Aypa (pronounced ai-pa) is the name for Earth in the Quechuan language of the Andes region - a reflection of our founding commitment to the land and the people who steward it.
Since our beginnings in Toronto in 2018, Aypa Power Canada has built, owned, and operated battery energy storage and hybrid renewable energy projects across Ontario. Today we are proud to have more than 25 operating projects across the province, with over 20 gigawatts of new capacity in planning or construction across North America.
Our leadership team has collectively developed, financed, constructed and operated more than 8,000 megawatts of energy projects across Canada and the United States. We bring that experience and track record to every community we enter, recognizing that we are welcomed as guests.
Project Name: Elora BESS
Nameplate Capacity: 211MW
Proponent Name: Elora BESS LP
Qualified Applicant: Aypa Power Canada Development LP
Ontario's Electricity Future - and What It Means for Bkejwanong
Ontario's electricity system is undergoing a major transformation. Aging power plants are retiring, while demand from homes, businesses, industry and transportation electrification is growing, and the province is committed to phasing out fossil fuel generation. Ontario’s energy demand is expected to increase by 65% by 2050, and battery storage is a key resource to help fill the province’s capacity.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are central to the province's plan to meet this shortage cleanly and reliably. The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), which oversees Ontario's grid, has received an application for the Bloomfield Reliability Project and the Queen's Line Reliability Project as part of the IESO’s Long-Term Procurement process.
We invite Chatham-Kent residents to attend an upcoming Community Open House to engage in meaningful discussions on our shared project priorities. The event will be hosted September 15, 2025, at 6:30 pm at the John D. Bradley Community Centre - 565 Richmond St Chatham, Ontario N7M 1R2.
Join senior members of the Aypa Power Canada team to learn more about this project and discuss our track record of increasing energy reliability while supporting local communities.
Learn more about the event: Public Community Meeting Notice
See the project timeline here: Project Timeline
Stayed tuned for upcoming updates!
The Bloomfield and Queens Line Reliability BESS projects help to ensure stable, energy supply that maintains Ontario’s grid reliability, including on and near Bkejwanong Territory.
Our Shared Commitment to This Region
Both proposed projects are in Chatham-Kent, situated within the traditional territory of Walpole Island First Nation. Each facility will store electricity and release it back to the grid when demand is highest - reducing the risk of blackouts, decreasing fossil fuel reliance, and helping Ontario meet its long-term climate commitments.
The Bloomfield Reliability Project
Location
Bloomfield Business Park, Chatham-Kent - on commercially designated land
Capacity
Up to 200 megawatts / 1600 megawatt-hours of energy storage
Community benefit
Capable of powering approximately 70,000 homes for eight hours each day
Emissions avoided
Equivalent to removing approximately 55,000 passenger vehicles from the road annually
Construction start
Planned end of 2027
Commercial operation
May 2029
Project life
Approximately 25 years, followed by full site decommissioning and restoration
The Queen's Line Reliability Project
Location
Near the intersection of Queen's Line and Dillon Road, Chatham-Kent - on industrial rural land
Capacity
Up to 500 megawatts / 4,000 megawatt-hours of energy storage
Community benefit
Capable of powering approximately 150,000 homes for eight hours each day
Emissions avoided
Equivalent to removing approximately 125,000 passenger vehicles from the road annually
Construction start
Planned end of 2027
Commercial operation
May 2029
Project life
Approximately 25 years, followed by full site decommissioning and restoration
How Does Battery Storage Work?
Battery Energy Storage Systems work on a simple principle: store electricity when there is excess in the provincial electricity system and release it back to the grid when demand is high. During off-peak hours, typically overnight, the batteries draw energy from Ontario's grid, including from clean sources such as nuclear, wind, and hydro. During peak demand periods, the batteries discharge stored energy to the grid when needed to prevent brownouts and reduce the dispatch of environmentally harmful sources.
Safety is Our First Obligation
At Aypa Power Canada, the safety of the communities we operate in is our top priority. We demonstrate this commitment through rigorous standards, transparent practices, and ongoing accountability. Here is how we approach safety at every project.
Every project is engineered to meet or exceed, all applicable local, provincial, national, and international safety codes - including NFPA 855 (the standard that sets safety requirements for the design, installation, and operation of energy storage systems) and UL 9540 (the safety standard for battery systems that ensures system-level safety, fire protection, and compliance with building and fire codes).
Systems are designed with multiple, redundant, independent layers of fire protection - so that if one safeguard is bypassed, the next activates automatically.
A project-specific Emergency Response Plan is developed in direct coordination with local fire and emergency services, ensuring first responders have the training and information they need before construction begins.
Each facility is monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year from Aypa's Remote Operating Centre. Any operation outside of standard parameters triggers an immediate response.
Operations and maintenance activities are conducted under a 25-year Long Term Service Agreement with performance guarantees, including battery availability and performance benchmarks that protect the reliability of every system.
Regular safety audits are conducted throughout the project life, not only at commissioning.
Aypa Power Canada engages local fire departments and emergency services as active partners throughout development, design]and construction and provides ongoing training and site familiarization so that first responders are never encountering our facilities for the first time during an emergency.
Protecting Aki - The Earth We Hold in Common
The people of Bkejwanong have maintained one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in southern Ontario for over 6,000 years. We do not take lightly the responsibility of working near this territory.
During standard operation, BESS facilities produce zero operational emissions. They require no cooling water drawn from local rivers or aquifers and generate no wastewater. The St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair - central to the life and identity of Bkejwanong - are not affected by the operation of these projects.
Before any construction begins, each project undergoes a full suite of environmental assessments required under Ontario law, including:
Our sites are designed with appropriate setbacks and vegetative screening using local, diverse plant species that blend with the existing agricultural and natural landscape. Noise mitigation measures ensure compliance with provincial standards, with the goal of protecting the quiet character of nearby communities. We aim for our facilities to be invisible neighbors.
Aypa Power Canada is committed to full decommissioning and comprehensive land rehabilitation at the end of the project lifecycle- restoring the site to the same condition, or better, than when we arrived. The land does not belong to us. We are temporary stewards of it, and we take that responsibility seriously.
Building a Relationship on Shared Values
Walpole Island First Nation - Bkejwanong, "where the waters divide" - has embodied what it means to be a steward of the land and waters for thousands of years. The Anishinaabe people of Bkejwanong, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa, understand that the health of the people and the health of the land are inseparable. That understanding is not a principle we need to teach; it is one we need to listen to.
Aypa Power Canada is committed to a partnership with Walpole Island First Nation that is grounded in mutual respect, transparency, and meaningful benefit - not a one-time consultation, but an ongoing relationship that begins before construction and continues through the full life of these projects.
Project Name: Elora BESS
Nameplate Capacity: 211MW
Proponent Name: Elora BESS LP
Qualified Applicant: Aypa Power Canada Development LP
Our Partnership Commitments
We commit to engaging with community members, Chief and Council, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers throughout every phase of development - not simply to inform, but to listen, learn, and adapt. We will share project information clearly and in a timely manner, and we welcome questions, concerns, and guidance at any stage.
Aypa Power Canada provides capacity funding to ensure that Walpole Island First Nation has the resources to meaningfully participate in all stages of review and engagement. We do not ask communities to engage on our terms without the support to do so on their own.
Construction of these projects is expected to generate 200–300 temporary full-time jobs during the development and construction period, and six permanent positions for long-term operations and maintenance. Aypa Power Canada and our EPC contractors are committed to ensuring that First Nations, are part of the construction of the projects, as well as maintenance and services work during the operating life.
What Meaningful Partnership Looks Like
Project Name: Elora BESS
Nameplate Capacity: 211MW
Proponent Name: Elora BESS LP
Qualified Applicant: Aypa Power Canada Development LP
We are guided in our engagement by three foundational principles:
Protect the Environment: Minimize ecological impacts and respect the natural environment, ecosystem, and waters of the territory - including through TEK integration and Indigenous-led monitoring to ensure that local habitats, species at risk, and agricultural soils, and soils are protected before, during, and after construction.
Respect Values and Traditions: Be inclusive of the knowledge systems, values, and traditions of the Anishinaabe peoples of Bkejwanong - and ensure all project activities align with those values
Partner with Communities: Maintain a mutually respectful, long-term relationship with Walpole Island First Nation and a commitment to ensuring that the community's vision for its territory is honoured
What is a Battery Energy Storage System, and is it safe near a community?
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are key to meeting Ontario's growing energy needs. They work by safely storing electricity when demand is low and releasing it back to the grid when demand is high. This ensures that homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and more always have reliable power when it matters most. BESS produces no emissions, no noise during standby, and no discharge into water or soil. These systems are designed to meet the highest international safety standards, monitored continuously, and built on commercial or industrial land - not residential areas. Communities across Ontario, including First Nations communities, already rely on BESS technology every day.
What is Aypa Power Canada's relationship with Walpole Island First Nation?
Aypa Power Canada is committed to a respectful, ongoing consultation with Walpole Island First Nation as a community with a deep connection to this territory. We seek to build a relationship, not simply to complete a process.
How safe are BESS Projects?
Aypa Power Canada upholds a culture of “Safety-First.” Each of our projects comply with all applicable codes and standards for energy storage and equipment, including NFPA855, UL 9540. In addition it will comply with Provincial and National codes and standards, as well as municipal zoning and site planning regulations. Our storage systems further incorporate a comprehensive, project-specific Emergency Response Plan (ERP), developed in direct coordination with local Fire officials and independent professional fire safety engineering organizations with expertise in energy storage safety and code compliance. A layered fire safety plan accounts for effective preventative measures and fire mitigation. Each system is designed with redundant, fail-safe mechanisms both at the site and component level, and undergoes continuous monitoring by our 24/7 Remote Operating Center.
Where are these projects located?
The Bloomfield Reliability Project will be located near Bloomfield Business Park and the Queen’s Line Reliability Project will be located at the intersection of Queen’s Line and Dillon Rd.
How is Aypa engaging with WIFN regarding this project?
Meaningful engagement goes far beyond checking a box or fulfilling a minimum duty to consult. Our goal is to build a foundation for a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship based on respect, transparency, and shared values.
What happens to the land when the projects are finished?
At the end of each project's operational life - approximately 25 years - Aypa Power Canada is committed to fully decommission the facility, remove all equipment and structures, responsibly recycle the batteries, and restore the land. The site returns to the condition it was in before we arrived.
Will these projects affect the waters and wetlands near Bkejwanong Territory?
No. Battery energy storage facilities are zero-emission, require no water intake, and produce no wastewater. The projects will undergo rigorous stormwater management reviews as part of the permitting process, protecting local waterways, like the St. Clair River, is a shared priority.
Will Walpole Island First Nation members have access to jobs and contracts?
Yes. Aypa Power Canada and our contractors are committed to providing equal access to employment opportunities for Indigenous job applicants and Indigenous-owned businesses. We are also committed to capacity funding so that the Nation has the support it needs to fully participate in engagement and review processes.
What tangible economic benefits do these projects bring to Chatham-Kent, local residents and indigenous communities
These projects will provide reliable energy capacity for the region—up to 200-megawatts at Bloomfield and 500-megawatts at Queen's Line. Economically, they will create between 200-300 jobs during peak construction, sourced locally through local labour unions.
How can I learn more or share my concerns?
We invite Walpole Island First Nation members, Elders, and community leaders to reach out to our team at any time. The fastest way to communicate with us is through our website contact form below. Community engagement does not end with a single meeting - it is an ongoing conversation throughout the life of each project. Contact us at the address below or through the project websites.
Get in Touch
Aypa Power Canada values its responsibility to serve and support the communities near our projects. We welcome your questions, your knowledge, and your concerns.
