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Smart Grid Program

The Call for Proposals under the Smart Grid Component of the Green Infrastructure Phase II Program is now closed.

Program Background

The Smart Grid Program is one of Natural Resource Canada’s targeted national programs addressing key infrastructure to advance the goals of the Pan Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Up to $100 million is being invested for utility-led projects to reduce GHG emissions, better utilize existing electricity assets and foster innovation and clean jobs for:

  • demonstration of smart grid technologies
  • deployment of smart grid integrated systems

Why is Canada investing in Smart Grids?

Smart grids modernize the safe and secure delivery of electricity, provide foundations for new market structures and a higher quality of service for customers. They are a key enabler for GHG mitigation as they increase the hosting capacity of renewable generation, leverage more from the electricity infrastructure we have, and increase resiliency.

Benefits of smart grids

Better utilizing existing capacity of electricity assets

Increasing the penetration of renewable generation

Increasing the reliability, resiliency and flexibility of the power system

Maintaining cyber
security

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Creating
jobs

Smart Grid Program Timeline

The smart grid program funds $100M over four years. During the program, recipients report on the deployment and grid impacts of their projects up-to-5 years following project investment. NRCan uses this information for analysis of grid impacts and program lessons to inform future program and policy development.

program timeline
Smart Grid program timeline - text version

Timeline from 2018-2028 indicating the program started in 2018-2019. The project implementation and deployment of assets and progress reporting will take place during 2018-2023. The outcome reporting (e.g., grid impacts, benefits, and technology performance) will take place during 2019-2028. NRCan Analysis (e.g., innovation analysis, benefits, and lessons learned) will take place during 2019-2028.

Smart Grid Program Brochure

The Smart Grid Program Overview (PDF, 2 MB) lists projects funded by the Program.
Once implemented, the projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and have an impact in reducing the long-term economic impact to the customer.

Supported Projects

Map of projects funded by the Smart Grid Program

Table 1. List of projects funded by the Smart Grid Program
Number Recipient Project Title Project Type System category
1 Yukon Energy Residential Demand Response Program (RDRP) Demonstration DERMS
2 EPCOR EPCOR Smart Grid System (ESGS) Deployment DERMS, Microgrid, Distributed energy storage
3 EQUS REA Canada’s 1st Member-Owned Rural Smart Grid Project Deployment DERMS
4 ENMAX Power Integrating Distributed Generation into Secondary Networks in Large Urban Centres Demonstration Grid monitoring and automation
5 FortisAlberta Inc. FortisAlberta Waterton Energy Storage Project Demonstration Microgrid-connected
6 City of Lethbridge Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) Deployment in Lethbridge Electricity Utility (LEU) Distribution Network Demonstration Grid monitoring and automation
7 SaskPower SaskPower Distribution Modernization Program Deployment Grid monitoring and automation
8 SSM PUC Sault Smart Grid Deployment Grid monitoring and automation
9 Entegrus Powerlines Inc. Conservation Voltage Reduction Deployment Grid monitoring and automation
10 Bracebridge Smart, Proactive, Enabled, Energy Distribution; Intelligent, Efficiently, Responsive (SPEEDIER) Project Hybrid DERMS
11 London Hydro West 5 Smart Grid Project Hybrid DERMS
12 Alectra Utilities Power.House Hybrid: Minimizing GHGs and Maximizing Grid Benefits Demonstration DERMS
13 Alectra Utilities GridExchange Demonstration DERMS
14 Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) York Region Non-Wires Alternatives Demonstration Project Demonstration New markets & rate options (NRO)
15 Lakefront Utilities Digital Utility Platform Deployment Grid monitoring and automation
16 Hydro-Quebec Smart Grid Deployment of Off-Grid Networks Deployment Microgrid off-grid, grid monitoring, automation and storage off-grid
17 Hydro-Quebec Lac-Megantic Microgrid Hybrid Microgrid-connected
18 Saint John Energy Integrated Dispatchable Resource Network for Local Electric Distribution Utility Hybrid DERMS
19 New Brunswick Power Collaborative Grid Innovation for Atlantic Smart Energy Communities Hybrid DERMS
20 Nova Scotia Power Collaborative Grid Innovation for Atlantic Smart Energy Communities Hybrid DERMS
21 PEI Energy Slemon Park Microgrid Project Deployment Microgrid, DERMS
Legend: DERMS– Distributed Energy Resource Management

Resources


Frequently Asked Questions for the Energy Innovation Program


Integro secured funding portal


Clean Growth Collaboration Community Join Now!

Projects supported by the SmartGrid program can be found on our Current Investments page by selecting ‘Smart Grid and Energy Storage’ under the ‘Technology Area’ pull down menu

Contact us

Email the SG Program nrcan.sg-ri.rncan@canada.ca

Stay connected

Join our electronic mailing list for up-to-date information on our funding calls, and follow us on social media and join the conversation using #SmartGridProgram

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

As part of the Invest in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $ 180 billion over 12 years in transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and tourism projects. Canada's rural and northern communities.

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