AES 210HV: Resilient Power for St. Theresa Point

St. Theresa Point First Nation is a remote community in northern Manitoba that can be reached only by air or winter ice roads that are open for only three months of the year.

The St. Theresa Point Middle School is the community hub in the center of town. In addition to schooling, it doubles as a community refuge for cooking, refrigeration, lighting, and medical equipment.

St. Theresa Point experiences frequent power outages as a result of an unreliable grid connection and increasingly frequent natural hazards, such as flooding and wildfires.

In 2025, Chief Raymond Flett and the council worked with IPVDC (International PV Development Corporation) and Vibes Energy to install a solar‑battery backup system. The installation uses Discover Energy Systems’ AES 210HV high‑voltage battery cabinet, a Sol‑Ark 60 kW hybrid inverter and 30 kW of solar panels. With 209 kWh of usable energy, the AES 210HV delivers reliable backup and reduces demand charges.

St. Theresa Point has about 3,800 residents on three reserves. Its isolation makes energy reliability critical. Its isolation also makes diesel fuel expensive. Using generators for heat and electricity is environmentally unfriendly and extremely expensive.

The band council has formed an electrification plan:

• In 2021, they installed grid‑tied solar
• July 2025, they installed the AES 210HV commercial-grade battery
• Future:
  • Add another battery for longer backup
  • Add energy storage to other locations that would benefit the community
  • Add to their existing electric vehicle fleet
  • Add more charge stations to their existing network

Chief Flett spearheaded the battery initiative after extended outages underscored the need for resilient power. IPVDC and Vibes Energy provided project management and technical expertise. The final design was based on local priorities and created training opportunities. Indigenous involvement extended beyond leadership: community members assisted with logistics, installation and monitoring, and now students are tracking system performance, making the battery project a living classroom.

Delivering a battery energy system to a fly‑in community required careful logistics. Batteries, solar panels, inverters and cabling had to be ordered months ahead, staged near Winnipeg, and shipped over ice roads before the spring thaw. Missing that window would mean a year’s delay or costly air freight.

The system has to withstand −40 °C winters and +30 °C summers, be fire‑safe, and operate outdoors. Engineers also needed to island critical battery backup loads and additional 30 kW DC-coupled solar without exporting energy to the grid. The existing AC-coupled solar helps offset building energy use when the grid is connected and the school is running.

IPVDC evaluated lead‑acid and nickel‑manganese‑cobalt batteries but dismissed them due to weight, maintenance, and safety concerns. Discover’s AES 210HV offered a better fit. It integrates four lithium‑iron‑phosphate modules in an outdoor cabinet, providing 213 kWh nominal and 209 kWh usable energy at 665 V.

Lithium‑iron‑phosphate chemistry is inherently safer than cobalt‑based chemistries and has a long cycle life. The cabinet’s liquid‑cooling and heating system and built‑in safety features allow operation in extreme conditions. The Sol‑Ark 60 kW inverter communicates with the battery through Discover’s LYNK II Gateway and enables switching to off‑grid mode automatically.

The pre‑assembled design of the battery shortens installation time – an important advantage given the short summer construction season.

Equipment was ordered in late 2024 and delivered over the ice road in early 2025. Electricians reconfigured panels so that only essential circuits are backed up. Discover’s application engineer commissioned the system and trained maintenance staff and students.

Soon after commissioning, a planned utility grid outage demonstrated the system’s value: the battery powered critical loads for the several hours the grid was down.

By discharging during high‑demand periods, the battery reduces demand charges and uses stored solar energy that would otherwise be wasted. Battery storage is commonly used for peak shaving, and the AES 210HV’s capability makes it suitable for this role.

With the implementation of this battery project, diesel consumption will decrease and lower greenhouse‑gas emissions, and the school will provide a resilient refuge for community members who rely on medical equipment, such as CPAP and dialysis machines.

By choosing a high‑tech battery system, St. Theresa Point's council signaled a commitment to energy sovereignty and sustainability. The Middle School installation is Manitoba’s first commercial‑scale hybrid solar‑battery project in a First Nation and serves as a model for other remote communities. Plans include adding another AES 210HV cabinet for longer backup and integrating electric buses and vehicle‑to‑grid technology. Partnerships with IPVDC, Vibes Energy, and Discover Energy Systems show how thoughtful planning and the right technology can overcome logistical and climate barriers.

As other fly‑in communities seek sustainable solutions, St. Theresa Point demonstrates that modern batteries can provide both security and opportunity, turning a school into an energy hub and a beacon of renewable energy leadership.

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