SMART GRID PROGRAM

A smart electrical grid is one that makes better use of existing generation, transmission and distribution assets, increases energy efficiency, ensures safer and more secure delivery of electricity and ultimately provides a higher quality of service for customers.

By boosting the hosting capacity of renewable energy, increasing resiliency and improving energy efficiency and conservation, smart grids are a key enabler for greenhouse gas mitigation.

Other benefits of smart grids include:

• facilitating microgrids and customer-owned generation;
• managing energy storage for a multitude of stacked applications;
• autonomous demand response; and
• increasing grid visibility.

On January 15, 2018, the Government of Canada announced a $100-million call for proposals to fund more smart grid systems. Investments resulting from this call for proposals will support larger-scale demonstrations of promising near-commercial smart grid technologies and the deployment of proven smart grid integrated systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which will better utilize existing electricity assets while fostering innovation and creating clean jobs.

To help interested stakeholders find information on federal programming that can help develop smart grids in Canada, a new website has been established, which includes a comprehensive guide to funding for eligible projects.