The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is giving the University of New Brunswick more than $7 million in funding to expand its smart grid research initiatives.

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, made the announcement at UNB Fredericton on Aug. 27.

Of the funding provided, more than $6.6 million will be used for UNB’s Atlantic Digital Grid project, which will result in a number of new tools and technologies for energy distribution, analysis, threat detection, infrastructure, and business modeling.

Smart grid, also known as digital grid, modernizes conventional electric power systems – transforming them from one-way systems to a grid that shares information and electricity both ways. The Atlantic Digital Grid project is a five-year initiative to address the complex technical, regulatory and social issues involved in modernizing the systems.

ACOA is also contributing $879,000 towards UNB’s Smart Grid Innovation Network, building on the university’s existing assets and expertise in energy management. The network was established in partnership with NB Power and Siemens.

“The emerging field of smart grid technology has the potential to transform the world’s power systems, and the University of New Brunswick is at the forefront of these innovations,” says Dr. Paul Mazerolle, UNB president and vice-chancellor. “The Atlantic Digital Grid project will join the Smart Grid Innovation Network and the Emera & NB Power Research Centre for Smart Grid Technologies to expand the innovation hub in our region, driving research and discovery and fuelling growth in the Atlantic Canadian economy.”

“I am proud of our government’s support for UNB’s cutting-edge work in digital grid technologies. This investment will help increase business activity in Atlantic Canada’s cleantech sector and will put the region on the map as a leader in energy distribution, minimizing the economic and environmental costs of operations, and providing long-term rate stability for customers. All of this will boost economic growth and help to build a sustainable economy for future generations,” says Minister Bains.

Media contact: Kelsey Pye

Photo: UNB Vice-President Academic Dr. George MacLean, UNB President Dr. Paul Mazerolle, Fredericton MP Matt DeCourcey, and The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA. Credit: Rob Blanchard/UNB.

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