By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Sodium-ion battery technology is about to change the face of Chatham-Kent and Canada, according to Canadian Energies Ltd. CEO Mark Garvin.
“This is going to be a benchmark for the world and for technology,” Garvin said of the proposed 300-acre, 10GW clean energy manufacturing and storage campus. “We are a 100 per cent clean energy company.”
Part of the company’s cofounder group, Garvin spoke with reporters at the Bradley Centre Friday, offering more details about what’s being billed as the largest-ever investment to be made in Chatham-Kent.
An emerging green technology that’s described as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries are made with salt that’s easily accessible.
In layman’s terms, sodium-ion technology uses salt, and experts say the technology performs better in cold weather than lithium batteries, making it an ideal choice for countries that experience harsh winters.
The project will include a manufacturing assembly line and a storage system geared towards potential markets, Garvin said, with the battery energy storage system (BESS) as the first phase.
“BESS is in huge demand in North America,” he explained. “We are looking at that as one of the biggest opportunities for sodium-ion. There is no battery energy storage system for sodium-ion at the moment in the entire North America.”
With respect to a timeline and a potential site, Garvin did not offer specifics, noting many federal and provincial approvals are still needed to move forward and confidentiality at this time remains part of the equation.
“We are trying to create a campus that comes with the battery energy storage system,” he said. “We have identified it but we have confidentiality agreements.”
However, he did say it would be a new build, not the revamp of an existing facility.
Company officials said logistics are the reasons behind choosing Chatham-Kent for the site. Proximity to Highway 401, the Canadian-U.S. border and the Windsor Salt Mine for raw materials all factored into the decision.
As did C-K’s mild winters, according to Canadian Energies co-founder and chairman Richard Wilson.
Recently, Canadian Energies Ltd. hit a milestone. It delivered the only Ontario-focused clean energy proposal at a recent investment summit engineered by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Garvin said the Chatham-Kent proposal elicited an “overwhelming response” from investors at the Toronto event, adding it was a “very proud” moment for the firm.
“I can assure you this is something nobody else has,” he said, adding the project has received many letters of intent. “The next era for the next 10 years, or maybe 20 years, will be sodium-ion batteries.”
The product line will be revealed at a later date.
In terms of employment, Garvin said the new complex will utilize the “best of the best” in skilled labour, as part of the manufacturing jobs.
A host of spinoff jobs will also be created, he said, noting the development will be something that exists for many years in the future and will create approximately 2,500 full-time jobs.
Getting the next generation involved in the process is also top of mind, Garvin said, adding plans are in the works to build a sodium-ion centre of excellence area, giving young people a chance to benefit from the growth.
Garvin, who is about to be a new father, said he’ll be relocating to C-K, noting he’s impressed with the community as a good place to raise children.
“We want to build here and create some value,” Garvin said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. We are ready to support the municipality and work hand in hand with local government.”
Garvin said the “dream” of a Canadian clean energy complex for Canada has been in the works for about a year and a half.
“I want it to be tomorrow,” he said of the potential start.
“We’re trying to do it as soon as possible,” advisor Peter Proszanksi chimed in, adding the firm is hard at work procuring agreements with government.
In response to questions about secrecy about the project within local government, Garvin said details could not be shared publicly prior to the summit as non-disclosure agreements were signed between the company and C-K’s administration.
