Canada Invests in New Smart Electricity Grid Technologies in Saint John

SAINT JOHN, NB, Jan. 24, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada is supporting clean energy technologies that encourage energy efficiency, bring cleaner renewable energy onto a smarter electricity network, create good middle-class jobs and promote sustainable economic growth and competitiveness.

Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay, Wayne Long, on behalf of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, today announced a $4.1-million investment to modernize Saint John's electric grid — thus improving electricity delivery, reducing pollution and creating jobs.

Saint John Energy's new Smart Grid Integrated Dispatchable Resource Network will develop artificial intelligence to help optimize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Saint John's existing system, ensuring a more resilient and reliable power system and providing long-term rate stability to customers.

This project will accelerate the switch to clean power by modernizing traditional power systems to be more digitally networked and flexible. The ultimate goal is to lower polluting emissions by making Canada's grids smarter and more efficient.

Funding for this project is provided by Natural Resources Canada's Smart Grid Program, which provides investments to utilities to reduce pollution and better use existing electricity assets while encouraging innovation. The program is part of the Government of Canada's more than $180-billion Investing in Canada infrastructure plan.

Projects such as this reflect what we heard through Generation Energy, the largest conversation about energy in our history. Canadians were clear about the need for a thriving, low-carbon economy. The Generation Energy Council outlined four key pillars to Canada's energy future, one of which was switching to clean power. 

Quick Facts

• This project, which will provide consumer engagement strategies, seeks to develop a system for integrating Distributed Energy Resources and to demonstrate that weather forecasting and other relevant data can be used to reduce the difference between the peak and average demands of its grid.
• Smart grids help ensure safer and more secure delivery of electricity and a higher quality of service for customers. They are a key enabler for greenhouse gas mitigation as they increase the hosting capacity of renewable generation, improve asset use and increase resiliency.
• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and Canada's rural and northern communities.

Quotes

"Our government is proud to invest in new technologies to create smarter, more resilient and cleaner energy systems. We are creating our low-carbon future, powered by clean electricity, while building a safer and more modern system that will generate good-paying jobs for middle-class Canadians."

Wayne Long
Member of Parliament for Saint John–Rothesay

"The convergence of the internet of things and artificial intelligence is unlocking exciting opportunities for utilities and their consumers to work together to target cost and environmental impact reductions. Saint John Energy prides itself in being a low-cost, highly reliable utility that offers consumer choice. This project presents another opportunity that will leverage the nimble nature of Saint John Energy and contribute to growing the Smart Energy entrepreneurial eco-system in the province."

Ray Robinson
President and CEO, Saint John Energy

Associated Links

Smart Grid Program  
Simply Science 
Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan 
Investing in Canada Plan Project Map 
Saint John Energy

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 343-292-6100, [email protected]; Jessica DeLong, Communications, Saint John Energy506-658-5225, [email protected]; Vanessa Adams, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 343-543-7645, [email protected]