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Grid automation
Automating Downtown Oakville’s Grid
Oakville Hydro
Locations
Oakville
Funding given
$284,840
Description
Oakville Hydro will install an advanced, automatic restoration system on the electrical distribution system in downtown Oakville. This smart grid system automatically reconfigures the grid after a fault and quickly restores service, limiting or eliminating power outages. The automatic restoration system will be integrated with the Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) in Oakville Hydro’s Control Centre, enhancing operational awareness and grid resiliency.
Status
Project in progress.
Grid monitoring and automation in Oshawa
Oshawa PUC
Locations
Oshawa
Funding given
$150,000
Description
This project will install three different components to form an integrated grid-monitoring system, providing Oshawa with the intelligence to optimize the operations of their systems. Investments include smart grid controllers, Volt/VAR controllers, and line sensors.
Status
Project in progress.
Comprehensive voltage management in Thamesville
Entegrus
Locations
Thamesville
Funding given
$67,085
Description
The project will implement a comprehensive voltage regulation system, enabling conservation voltage reduction in the town of Thamesville. Grid Edge Control Devices from Varentec Inc., a previous Smart Grid Fund recipient, will be installed to establish an integrated smart grid solution, facilitating high-level grid control and visualization, as well as energy conservation through voltage reduction.
Status
Project in progress.
dTechs Oakville Hydro SGF
Locations
Oakville
Funding given
$233,794
Description
This projects involves installing 225 high resolution wireless sensors on the medium voltage supply in Oakville to help the utility detect issues on their grid, making the system more efficient and reliable.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- Oakville Hydro
GE Grid IQ™ Innovation Centre
Location
Markham
Funding given
$5,288,400
Description
The Smart Grid Fund contributed to the creation of a facility for research and development in substation and distribution automation, and transmission protection and control. This project was also supported by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Growth with a contribution of $2,644,200.
Status
Project complete.
Distribution Transformer Monitoring – Beta Completion/Growth Preparations/Deployment
Locations
Cambridge and Windsor
Funding given
$1,607,450
Description
GRID20/20 partnered with two Ontario LDCs to install and test an intelligent sensor system that offers and unparalleled window in to the heart of the power grid.
Status
Project complete.
The pilot, which involved the installations of 128 sensors, proved that intra-grid data can be extracted in a fast and accurate manner. It was used to identify unfavorable distribution grid conditions for remediation by LDC operators, including issues around voltage, identify electric vehicle charging stations, and improperly sized transformers. GRID20/20 sensors were able to identify $170,000 in power theft on only two transformers.
Collaborators include:
- Vexos
- Aequus Global Solutions
- Kinectrics
- Cambridge North Dumfries Hydro
- EnWin Utilities
Smart Meter Cyber Security
Location
Burlington
Funding given
$753,487
Description
N-Dimension partnered with Burlington Hydro to demonstrate and validate their cyber security technology on their Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI network).
Status
Project complete.
N-Dimension assessed, analyzed, and identified vulnerabilities in the existing network design at both Burlington Hydro and AMI head-end locations. They then re-engineered the networks to ensure Burlington Hydro’s AMI traffic was isolated from all other traffic at the head-end, reducing risk. The network isolation strategy ensured that only relevant network traffic was monitored by the N-Dimension system, and greatly reducing the amount of false positive alerts.
The core technology developed during the partnership was successfully used to create N-Dimension’s managed security service offering, N-Sentinel Monitoring. N-Sentinel is a line of cloud-based cyber security managed intelligence that provides 24/7 threat monitoring and visibility in the detection of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Collaborators include:
- Burlington Hydro
Distributed Energy Management and Storage Network (DEMSN) Project
Location
Richmond Hill
Funding given
$492,535
Description
Opus One is developing a distributed Energy Management and Storage Network (DEMSN) within Alectra Utilitiess distribution system. The objectives of the demonstration include monitoring, protecting and optimizing control of generation, demand, and storage resources.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- Alectra Utilities Inc.
Prolucid Smart Grid Power Technologies
Location
Toronto
Funding given
$887,820
Description
Prolucid developed and tested an Embedded Smart Grid Application Platform (ESAP) for in-the-field, distributed intelligence monitors and controls grid infrastructure. The ESAP solution gathered data from local grid infrastructure in real-time to provide instantaneous information on network capacity, and electricity demand and supply conditions. This information provided Toronto Hydro with the ability to have automated control over fault response, renewable generation, etc.
Status
Project complete.
Prolucid’s project gave Toronto Hydro more insight into a solar array installation within their distribution system, providing
- real-time data regarding the amount of energy being produced by the solar array,
- real-time data regarding the infrastructure (e.g. transformers, transmission lines) around the array and if it is capable of transmitting the energy generated by the array and if there is sufficient local load to use the energy, and
- automated control over the generation of energy from the array.
Collaborators include:
- WindShare
- Ciufo & Cooperber
- National Instruments
- Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited
Schneider Electric Smart Grid Laboratory
Ryerson University’s Centre for Urban Energy
Location
Toronto
Funding given
$500,000
Description
Teaming with Schneider Electric, university faculty members, researchers, and students, the Schneider Electric Smart Grid Laboratory is helping to develop and deliver solutions in the areas of smart grids, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and other grid modernizing technologies through pilot testing and demonstrations.
Status
Project complete.
The Centre for Urban Energy and the Smart Grid Laboratory is open for collaboration and use by other Ontario-based institutions and businesses. The facility can represent a substation and feeders of any LDCs in order to test all sorts of grid conditions in real time, from renewables and energy storage integration to microgrid deployment. In addition to LDC participation, the Smart Grid Laboratory supports research projects and academic programming at Ryerson, and can help vendors test and verify innovative new smart grid solutions.
Collaborators include:
- Schneider Electric
Distributed Dynamic Voltage/VAR Control and Monitoring of Distribution Feeders
Locations
London, Chatham, Windsor, Toronto, Markham and San Jose, California
Funding given
$366,500
Description
This project demonstrated an innovative solution that helps flatted voltage profiles along secondary distribution feeder lines by installing devices at strategic locations across three Southwestern Ontario LDCs to improve renewable energy integration and reduce line loss.
Status
Project completed.
Varentec’s technology was highly effective at smoothing voltage profiles along selected feeders,, and demonstrated the potential for conservation voltage reduction. In each of the three LDC service territories, voltage variation improvement metrics were either met or exceeded (i.e. reduced low voltage occurrences (dips in voltage on the distribution line) by 75% and was able to boost low voltage deviation (more significant drops in voltage on the distribution line) by 50%).
Collaborators include:
- GE Digital Energy
- Hydro One Networks Inc.
- London Hydro Inc.
- Entegrus Inc.
- Enwin Utilities Ltd.
MiGen Transactive Grid
Formerly The Grid Edge Active Transactional Demand Response (GREAT-DR) System
Location
Ottawa and Mississauga
Funding given
$481,000
Description
This project will explore a transactive energy solution that outfits a small group of houses with energy generation and storage capacity, as well as the ability for energy to flow between the houses within the group. The demand response and transactive energy solution will bring value to stakeholders like electricity consumers, business developers, distribution utilities, transmitters, and the Independent Electricity System Operator.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- Hydro Ottawa Limited
- University of Ottawa
- Carleton University
- CIMA+
- Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada Inc.
- Energate Inc.
- Quadra Power Inc.
Flexible Power Laboratory
Location
Toronto
Funding given
$2,000,000
Description
Kinectrics is constructing a new Flexible Power Laboratory to test, develop, and certify high-power equipment, primarily renewable energy generators and energy storage systems. The laboratory will be the first of its kind in Canada and will offer comprehensive testing and certification services to manufacturers, system integrators, and utilities throughout Ontario, Canada, and worldwide.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- Alstom
Residential PV generation with enhanced functionality for improved grid performance and community benefits
Locations
Kingston and Ottawa
Funding given
$1,504,026
Description
This project will use novel micro-inverter technology to ease the disruptive by-products that solar installations can produce (e.g. SPARQ's inverters will smooth voltage variance produced by solar installations). The smart micro-inverters will provide a range of benefits, including grid voltage and frequency stabilization, fault-ride-through, grid efficiency improvement, and load balancing. These improved efficiencies will have potential cost savings for ratepayers and utilities.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- Hydro Ottawa Ltd.
- Queen’s University
- Eion Wireless
MILE Power Line Maintenance
Locations
Hamilton and St. Catharines
Funding given
$148,000
Description
Alectra Utilities Corporation is collaborating with CIMA+ on a new artificial intelligence technology that will deliver faster power restoration to customers. The technology is expected to improve system reliability and reduce operational costs, which will translate into better service to customers in Alectra’s service area.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- CIMA+
Loss Reduction Pilot at Chapleau
Burman Energy Consultants Group Inc.
Location
Chapleau, Ontario
Funding given
$61,705
Description
Burman Energy will install real-time voltage regulating equipment in strategic locations along Chapleau PUC's distribution system to determine the effectiveness of the technology in reducing energy losses and ultimately saving money for electricity consumers.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- Varentec Inc.
- Chapleau Public Utilities Corporation
Testing and Demonstration of Supervisory Predictive Grid Control for Distribution Substations
Location
Toronto
Funding given
$679,640
Description
The Green Power Labs project will use predictive analytics and grid control technology to make better use of renewable generation and energy storage. This technology will enable improved control, reliability and automation of the Ontario electricity grid.
Status
Project underway.
Collaborators include:
- Toronto Hydro Electric System Limited
- City of Toronto