Siemens Canada forms partnership with Canadian utilities to develop smart grid

Siemens Canada has entered into an agreement with New Brunswick Power (NB Power) and Nova Scotia Power (NSP) to develop smart grid technology to manage electricity better and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is called the Smart Grid Atlantic project. It is being funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, which awarded grants totaling 35.6 million Canadian dollars. Overall, the entities will invest a total of CA$92.7 million in the project.

The partners will research how the grid of the future can optimize integration of renewables, ensure the stability of the grid, and manage decentralized distribution. The project is expected to reduce future electricity costs for consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“The electricity sector is undergoing significant change including new applications and new ways of generating and delivering electricity,” Cedrik Neike, member of the managing board of Siemens AG, said. “Businesses, governments, and researchers must work together in order to keep pace with continuous advances and demands in the electricity grid. Siemens’ partnership and investment in Atlantic Canada are examples of how action and collaboration will ensure a sustainable energy future for Canada and around the world.”

Siemens will develop the software while NB Power and NSP will provide the necessary assets and customer engagement to demonstrate and test these platforms in real scenarios.

“Our government is bringing cheaper energy and a more reliable power grid in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,” the Honorable Navdeep Bains, minister of innovation, science and economic development in Canada, said. “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.”

Faisal Kazi, president and CEO of Siemens Canada, said this is a ground-breaking partnership.

“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,” Kazi said. “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.”

NB Power President and CEO Gaëtan Thomas said the company’s goal is to eliminate the remaining 20 to 25 percent of its carbon producing energy.

“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,” he said. “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.”