Siemens Canada, NB Power and Nova Scotia Power announce $92.7 million project to develop the electrical grid of the future

January 24, 2019

Siemens, New Brunswick Power and Nova Scotia Power have been awarded $35.66 M CAD in federal funding for a joint pilot project aimed at analyzing challenges and opportunities posed by Canada’s energy transition. The partners will research and test in real-time how the grid of the future can optimize integration of renewables, ensure stability of the grid and manage decentralized distribution in order to better manage the provinces’ electricity, potentially reduce future electricity costs for consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The pilot, officially called the Smart Grid Atlantic project, is being funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund.

“Our government is bringing cheaper energy and a more reliable power grid in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,” said The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “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.”

“This partnership will be truly ground-breaking. Together with NB Power and Nova Scotia Power, we will develop and implement a powerful cloud-based Energy System Platform (ESP), allowing everyone to participate in the energy market,” says Faisal Kazi, President and CEO of Siemens Canada. “The ESP will enable data analytics, ensure connectivity, and provide tools for developers to create customer-focused applications and services. 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.”

Siemens will research and develop the made-in-Canada ESP software and NB Power and NSP will provide the needed assets and customer engagement to demonstrate and test these platforms in real scenarios and real time. Siemens and its partners have also committed to increased collaboration with post-secondary institutions, driving greater gender diversity in the workforce, developing intellectual property (IP) produced in Canada, and driving more engagement with local indigenous communities in the clean energy sector.

“Our customers count on us for reliable, affordable and clean energy. As we continue to lead Canada in reducing carbon emissions, we need innovative solutions to add new energy sources to our grid. Contingent on approval by our regulator, investing in the Amherst Smartgrid Project will help us learn how to best incorporate new technologies to serve our customers, while showcasing Amherst as a progressive, smart-energy community,” says Karen Hutt, President and CEO, Nova Scotia Power.

“Our goal is to gradually eliminate the remaining 20 to 25 per cent of our generation that is carbon producing while ensuring we protect our customers from the significant rate increases that have resulted from this transition elsewhere. 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,” says Gaëtan Thomas, President and CEO, NB Power. “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.”

Funding was announced today in Fredericton by Matt DeCourcey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Member of Parliament for Fredericton on behalf of The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.