Hitachi Energy to Power 640 MW Marguerite Lake CAES Project

Hitachi Energy has been selected to provide the critical substation infrastructure for the Marguerite Lake Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) project near La Corey, Alberta. Developed by Cache Power, Federation Group, and EllisDon, the project is expected to deliver up to 640 MW of generation capacity and approximately 48 hours of energy storage. The infrastructure will connect the facility to Alberta’s power system, supporting the reliable integration of long-duration energy storage as the province continues to expand renewable generation.

The challenge

As wind and solar resources continue to expand across Alberta, the need for large-scale energy storage solutions is growing. While renewable generation is critical to the energy transition, its variable nature requires technologies that can balance supply and demand while maintaining grid stability.

Marguerite Lake, a long-duration energy storage project, is designed to meet this need by storing surplus electricity during periods of lower demand and making it available when energy is needed most. The project will store compressed air in solution-mined salt caverns located approximately 1,100 meters underground within the Lotsberg salt formation, geological conditions considered ideal for large-scale compressed air energy storage. Located adjacent to existing transmission infrastructure, the project is expected to support greater renewable energy integration while enhancing the flexibility and reliability of Alberta’s power system.

Project Details

Marguerite Lake CAES Project
Substation capacity:4 260/13.8 KV 120/160/200 MVA generator step-up transformers2 260/13.8 KV 100/133/165 MVA power transformers
Generation Capacity: Up to 640 MW
Storage Duration: Up to 48 hours
Energy Capacity: Up to 30.72 GWh
Grid Connection: Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES)
Key Benefit:Reliable integration of large-scale, long-duration energy storage into Alberta’s power system.

The solution

The Marguerite Lake CAES project utilizes underground salt caverns to store compressed air, creating a flexible and dispatchable energy resource capable of responding to changing grid conditions.

To enable the facility’s reliable connection to Alberta’s power system, Hitachi Energy is providing the critical substation infrastructure that will serve as the gateway between the storage facility and the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). Through the design, engineering, supply, and construction of the substation, Hitachi Energy is helping establish a secure and reliable grid connection while providing the foundation needed to maximize the value of long-duration energy storage.

The impact

Once operational, the Hitachi Energy-supported Marguerite Lake CAES Project is expected to strengthen grid reliability, improve energy flexibility, and support the continued growth of renewable energy across Alberta. By enabling the integration of large-scale, long-duration energy storage, Hitachi Energy is helping the Marguerite Lake CAES Project advance Canada’s energy transition goals and build a more resilient, sustainable electricity system for future generations.