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Ontario Funds Leading Edge Smart Grid Projects
Posted On 03 Dec 2014
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GLOBE-Net, December 3, 2014 – Ontario is building a smarter electricity grid by supporting 17 new energy projects through its Smart Grid Fund program.
The province will provide almost $24 million, supporting about $54 million in total electricity sector investment, expecting to create more than 350 jobs. This round of funding will support advanced energy technology projects in the areas of:
- Energy storage: to allow energy to be stored and brought back to the grid on request to balance system needs.
- Electric vehicle integration: to assist customers and utilities in managing the unique electricity system challenges associated with electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
- Behind the Meter: to enable two-way information exchange between consumer and the utility in order to improve system efficiency and consumer cost management.
- Microgrids: to help localized groups of electricity generation, energy storage, and loads that function autonomously from the main electricity grid function more efficiently.
- Grid automation: to use innovative software and hardware to help the system operator remotely control and manage the electricity grid.
- Data analytics: to find new ways to use data generated by smart meters and other electricity grid assets to help improve investment decisions and system performance.
Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Energy.
Launched in April 2011, the Smart Grid Fund is a $50 million program that supports high-value opportunities to advance energy innovation in Ontario. To date the Fund has supported eleven projects creating more than 600 direct and indirect jobs.
“These projects represent an investment that will have long-term positive impacts on the energy sector’s contribution to developing innovative technologies, fostering economic development and promoting job creation,” said Bob Chiarelli, Ontario Minister of Energy.
A Smart Grid is a modern, intelligent electricity system. It uses advanced communications and control technology to improve the flexibility, reliability and efficiency of the electricity system. The Smart Grid Fund supports Ontario-based projects that test, develop and bring to market the next generation of smart grid solutions.
In Smart from Sunrise to Sunset, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario views the pursuit of a smart grid a progressive policy development and shrewd investment.
More details on the 17 projects that have been offered support from this round of Ontario’s Smart Grid Fund are available here. Pending successful contracting, this support will be more than $23.7 million and is expected to create more than 350 jobs.
The critical importance of deploying smart grid technologies in Canada’s major urban centers was a key topic of discussion in the QUEST2014 Conference wrapping up today in Vancouver. See more here.
