Canada is getting its smart grid on! Member of Parliament for Ottawa South, David McGuinty, on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Amarjeet Sohi, announced on June 14 a $5 million investment to Hydro Ottawa (a regulated electricity distribution company operating in the City of Ottawa) for Phase 2 of a smart grid project at a community housing complex in the city.

Smart grid 101

A smart grid is an intelligent electricity network based on digital technology that is used to supply electricity to consumers through two-way digital communication. Such system enables monitoring, analysis, control and communication within the supply chain to help improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption and cost, and maximize the transparency and reliability of the energy supply chain. The smart grid was introduced with the objective of overcoming the weaknesses of conventional electrical grids.

“Smart Grids Explained” by World Economic Forum, YouTube.

Smart grids are fitted with sensors which collect and transmit data. such information enables automatic electricity flow adjustments. Grid managers, who are located remotely, are informed of the situation in real time and can act immediately if there is an issue. Moreover, such grid type can communicate with smart meters and, for example, turn on consumers’ home appliances automatically when there is a lot of electricity in the grid and prices are lower.

(A smart grid) enables monitoring, analysis, control and communication within the supply chain to help improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption and cost, and maximize the transparency and reliability of the energy supply chain.

Governments around the globe have been encouraging the use of smart grids for their potential to control and deal with global warming, emergency resilience as well as energy independence situations.

MiGen Transactive Grid project

Hydro Ottawa’s MiGen Transactive Grid project gives consumers and businesses the opportunity to establish microgrids, which enable customers to generate their own power. Solar panels and a modern battery storage system are installed on the buildings and a smart inverter converts the sun’s energy into electricity. Unused electricity can be stored to protect against outages, shared with connected neighbors or simply sent back to the grid.

The project is part of the Government of Canada’s more than $180-billion Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. “Today’s investment in innovative technology will help families in Ottawa save money and reduce pollution. Our government will continue to support clean energy initiatives that create jobs, support investment and industry competitiveness, and help us realize our global climate change goals.” McGuinty stated.

This is promising endeavor which will hopefully benefit the community.