Canada's federal government, via its Strategic Innovation Fund, awarded New Brunswick Power, Nova Scotia Power and Siemens Canada CAD35.66 million (USD26.79 million) to develop and demonstrate smart grid technology capable of better managing the provinces' electricity grids and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Dubbed the Smart Grid Atlantic project, overall project investment is expected to total CAD92.7 million (USD69.64 million). Optimizing integration of renewable energy resources, managing distribution of decentralized generation and ensuring grid stability with an eye towards lowering consumer energy costs and GHG emissions are focal points of the smart grid project.

Realizing those aims centers on development and testing of an open, cloud-based, real-time Energy System Platform (ESP) that ensures connectivity and provides data analytics and tools for developers to create applications and services that can be used by utility customers, according to a Siemens news release. "The platform will also optimize the overall electrical grid and reduce the cost of transitioning into a greener future, not only in Canada but throughout the globe," said Faisal Kazi, Siemens Canada president and CEO.

A "groundbreaking" smart grid project in Canada's Maritime Provinces

Kazi described the Smart Grid Atlantic project as "truly ground-breaking." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is bringing cheaper energy and a more reliable power grid to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, added national Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains. "Our strategic investment in Siemens' project will create new middle-class jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and will cement our place as a world leader in clean technologies," he stated.

Siemens Canada is to research and develop the ESP software in Canada. New Brunswick Power and Nova Scotia Power will provide the required assets and customer engagement needed to demonstrate and test the ESB platforms live and in real-time. The project also entails partners collaborating with post-secondary educational institutions to foster greater industry workforce diversity, develop intellectual property produced in Canada and boost engagement with local, indigenous communities in the clean energy sector, according to the press release.

New Brunswick Power aims to gradually reduce and eventually eliminate the 20-25 percent of its power generation that produces carbon emissions while at the same time keeping a lid on consumer energy cost increases associated with similar initiatives elsewhere, explained New Brunswick Power President and CEO Ga ë tan Thomas.

"The only way to have a fully renewable future is with smart grid technologies that ease the acceptance of small-scale renewables onto the grid. With these new federal investments, we’ll be able to accelerate our pilot projects and testing to ensure that customers get a greener New Brunswick grid without the disruptions we’re seeing in other parts of the world."

Renewables in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

New Brunswick's government has a goal of renewable energy resources supplying 40 percent of the province's electricity by 2020. Renewables, in the form of wind, hydro and biomass and including imports from outside the province, accounted for 37.1 percent of New Brunswick's 13,170 GWh worth of energy sales in the province for 2017-2018.

New Brunswick has one of North America's strongest wind energy resource bases. As of year-end 2017, 294 MWs of wind power generation capacity was up and running in the province, which helped reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and associated fuel price volatility, the provincial government points out. "Since 2006, New Brunswick has gone from having no wind energy on its system, to a point now when at times in the summer up to 50% of our total electrical needs are met with wind energy," the provincial government highlights.

Hydroelectric power generation has been a mainstay of electricity services in both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia for around 100 years. Most large-scale sites have been developed, however, the New Brunswick government points out. Development of small-scale and micro-sized, run-of-river hydroelectric systems that don't require construction of dams are being considered as a result, as is taking advantage of the province's high tidal energy resource potential.

Nova Scotia continues to add to its renewable energy portfolio in order to realize a 40 percent-by-2020 renewable electricity goal. Wind power figures prominently in the new energy mix.

"The price of energy from renewable sources like wind is locked-in for decades at a time, which helps provide predictable electricity prices for customers," Nova Scotia Power points out. "That’s why we think moving toward renewables at a planned, prudent pace that works for customers is a great investment in Nova Scotia’s future.

"The equivalent of 135,000 Nova Scotia homes were powered by renewable energy, according to recent statistics available on Nova Scotia Power's website. Wind energy was the largest contributor, meeting the electricity needs of the equivalent of 85,000, or 16 percent, of homes in the province. Hydro and tidal energy resources met the needs of the equivalent of another 50,000 or 10 percent, while biomass supplied the equivalent of another 10,000, or two percent.

Solid fuel (coal) continued to make up the lion's share of provincial electricity, however; supplying the equivalent of 295,000, or 59 percent, of homes in the province. The percentage of emissions-free, renewable power generation in the province's energy mix continues to rise gradually, however.

Renewable energy resources met 29 percent of Nova Scotia's electricity needs in 2017, according to the utility. That was up one percent from 2016's record-high 28 percent.

“We’ve worked diligently over the past decade to move from coal to cleaner energy by using creative solutions that allow us to take advantage of wind power when it’s available, and ramp up more reliable, electricity generation - such as hydro and thermal - when customers need it most,” said Nova Scotia Power President and CEO Karen Hutt.

“Our customers expect us to provide a smarter, cleaner, cost-effective service and our team is embracing this challenge. We’re testing innovative technology such as battery storage and electric vehicle chargers, making connections with neighboring provinces for economic energy exchanges, and investing in hydro resources in our own backyard, which will help us deliver clean, reliable electricity to Nova Scotians for generations to come.”