Coquitlam, Canada - December 12, 2023 - Moment Energy, a leading innovator in battery energy storage systems (BESS), is thrilled to announce its first ever end-to-end integration involving Hydro Ottawa Limited, a utility industry leader, and BluWave-ai, a Canadian leader in artificial intelligence (AI) enabled grid energy optimization platform to bring intelligent distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) capability to the distribution grid. This marks a significant milestone for Moment Energy as it forays into the on-grid utility space, proudly upholding its unmatched commitment to safety, performance, and sustainability.
With Moment Energy’s BESS responding to demand response signals, the grid operator can support growing EV charging demands while minimizing the cost of infrastructure upgrades that would otherwise be needed.
This first phase of the collaboration facilitates Moment Energy and BluWave-ai to perform rigorous testing to validate operational modes like peak shaving, plus integrated communications, telemetry, and fault response. Full system interoperability testing results will be presented to Hydro Ottawa for sign-off.
Essential control and fault responses have been verified via preliminary testing, and Moment Energy engineers will closely monitor the battery energy storage units during active testing periods. BluWave-ai engineers will remotely monitor all systems, ensuring a comprehensive and safe testing environment.
"We’re excited to venture into this new partnership with Hydro Ottawa and BluWave-ai," said Cecilia Liu, Project Engineer at Moment Energy. "A comprehensive test plan was used to evaluate the end-to-end interoperability of our products over the course of multiple months. We’ve seen great results and look forward to commissioning our systems on-grid in the next stage of this partnership.”
"At Hydro Ottawa, we have pledged to build a smarter, more sustainable energy future for our customers and the communities we serve. By partnering with innovative companies like Moment Energy and BluWave-ai, we are taking an important step towards this goal," shared Guillaume Paradis, Chief Electricity Distribution Officer at Hydro Ottawa. "This project holds promise for enhancing the capabilities and resiliency of our grid in order to support the future of electrification and the energy needs of our customers."
The next stage of this landmark initiative will see Moment Energy’s Flora BESSs delivered to Area X.O, an Ottawa-based research and development complex for next-gen technology, in Q1 2024. During this phase of the project, two Moment Energy Flora BESSs will be installed behind the meter to support fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers and local building loads. Following the commissioning at Area X.O., six more units will be installed in front of the meter on the distribution grid around Ottawa.
“With our EV Everywhere product, we are working with Hydro Ottawa in order to strategically store power in Moment Energy's Flora BESS units. We can use AI to determine the best time to charge based on anticipated EV charging patterns, renewable energy production, and grid peak demand. This approach ensures smoother integration of EV charging into the smart grid, while helping to maintain grid stability and reliability.” said Alex Linchieh, P.Eng., CFA, Head of Product Management at BluWave-ai.
Claus Eckbo, Owner, God’s Pocket Resort
Off-Grid, Port Hardy, British Columbia
Moment Energy Flora BESS
66% reduction in diesel usage
PROBLEM
Preserving the "Rustic Feel"
God’s Pocket Resort stands as a world-renowned destination for cold-water diving and kayaking, nestled on a remote island accessible only by boat. For over 100 years, the area has served as a refuge for sailors and fishermen, and today the resort continues that tradition of sanctuary by offering adventurers a rustic, immersive experience far from the grid.
However, operating off-grid presented a loud and expensive problem. For years, the resort relied entirely on a traditional setup utilizing lead-acid battery banks and diesel generators.
"It’s the traditional way to set things up, but it poses many challenges with running larger machinery and having heavy energy demands."
Claus Eckbo, Owner of God’s Pocket Resort
The constant hum of generators distracted from the natural beauty guests came to see, and the logistics of transporting thousands of litres of diesel to a remote island proved both costly and risky. Claus required a solution capable of handling the resort’s heavy energy load, including the kitchen, dive compressors, and guest lodging, without compromising the environment he and visiting guests cherished.
SOLUTION
Designed to evolve.
Claus partnered with Moment Energy to install the Flora battery energy storage system, a repurposing-first energy storage solution designed to withstand the rigors of remote operation. Three years and 1,000 cycles later, the resort operates on a completely different rhythm. Since the initial installation, Claus has successfully upgraded the resort’s infrastructure by integrating a new solar array that feeds directly into the BESS. This solar upgrade allows the batteries to charge from the sun, further reducing dependency on the generator in keeping operations running.
"The impact on the environment is significantly lower, I started to realize how quiet the machinery is because we’re not having to run the generators at the same time."
Claus Eckbo, Owner of God’s Pocket Resort
The system has done more than maintain the status quo. It has enabled growth and proven itself as a reliable partner in the resort's evolution, integrating seamlessly as Claus continues to invest in elevating the immersive, natural experience guests value most.
SUPPORT
Built to last.
This summer, Moment Energy's team made the trip to God's Pocket to conduct routine maintenance on the battery system. Lauren Boers, Application Engineer, and Jarod Krane, Electrical Engineer, spent time on-site ensuring the system was operating to Moment Energy’s high performance standards and integrating smoothly with the resort's recent upgrades.
“The energy solution now, it completely changed the game, very impressed with Moment Energy and their entire team's commitment to ensuring that their solution is something that will last a very long time.”
Claus Eckbo, Owner of God’s Pocket Resort
This hands-on approach reflects Moment Energy's customer-first core philosophy and commitment to long-lasting, sustainable solutions. Each battery module in God’s Pocket once powered an electric vehicle and was given a second life through rigorous testing, certification, and engineering at Moment Energy’s facility. The result is a clean, reliable, and affordable system that supports Claus’s vision for the future of his resort.
"Being a local company, we have the opportunity to build these relationships and come out to client sites to provide the maintenance that keeps the batteries operating year after year, it's something we really pride ourselves in."
Lauren Boers, Applications Engineer at Moment Energy
As Moment Energy advances the next-generation of its Luna and Nova systems, with higher energy density and modular swappability, the team remains just as focused on supporting customers beyond, and even before, installation. Grounded in a mission to make clean energy attainable and affordable, Moment Energy helps facilities secure BC Hydro incentives, federal tax credits, and financing support that routinely reduce project costs to less than 10% of the total capital investment.
For Claus and operations like God’s Pocket, it means having a partner that is committed not only to innovative technology but also to the long-term success of the project.
FUTURE
Powering what comes next.
As God's Pocket Resort enters its next phase of operation, the Moment Energy system continues to function as the backbone of its infrastructure. The 1,000th cycle marks just the beginning of a long lifespan that Claus expects will serve the resort's evolving needs for years to come. For remote operations facing similar challenges, whether resorts, research stations, or industrial sites, and more, God's Pocket demonstrates that battery energy storage isn't just about reducing costs. It's about building resilient, adaptable energy systems that improve operations today while supporting growth tomorrow. And with over 1,000 cycles behind it, this system is just getting started.
