Ottawa announces plan to spend $35.6 million on East Coast power grid technology

A new $92.7-million project aims to improve the sustainability and efficiency of grid technology on the East Coast.

The project – dubbed Smart Grid Atlantic – is a partnership between Siemens Canada Ltd., New Brunswick Power and Nova Scotia Power.

Ottawa is contributing $35.66 million towards the pilot project.

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Announcements were made Thursday in Fredericton and Amherst, N.S., by Fredericton MP Matt DeCourcey and federal Rural Economic Development Minister Bernadette Jordan.

Siemens says the partners will research and test in real-time how the grid can optimize the integration of renewables, ensure stability and manage decentralized distribution.

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NB Power president and CEO Gaetan Thomas says the goal is to gradually reducing carbon emissions through innovative technologies.

A federal news release says the project will create 241 highly skilled jobs in Atlantic Canada.

It says the project will help improve power delivery to underserved communities and reduce future electricity costs for consumers.

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“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 1/8ESP 3/8, allowing everyone to participate in the energy market,” Faisal Kazi, president and CEO of Siemens Canada, said in a statement.

“The ESP will enable data analytics, ensure connectivity, provide tools for developers to create customer-focused applications and services, and use peer-to-peer technology to enable secure energy trading.”

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